Private-property visits require owners’ prior consent; wildlife monitoring will include overnight fieldwork.
MARIGOT:--- Environmental specialists will survey Saint-Martin from October 15 to 21, 2026, as the Collectivité prepares a partial revision of the territory’s land-use plan, the Plan d’Occupation des Sols (POS).
The assessment will document wildlife, plant life, natural habitats, and wetlands, providing environmental information to inform the planning revision.
In a press release issued October 8, the Collectivité informed landowners that it has entrusted the mission to Antilles-Guyane Environnement (A.G.E.), an environmental consultancy. Its team of ecologists and naturalists will visit several districts, with some investigations taking place at dawn and between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Owners’ consent required before private-property surveys
The Collectivité stated that investigations on private property require owners' prior agreement.
A.G.E. personnel will carry an official mission letter issued by the Collectivité to explain and substantiate their activities to affected owners and occupants.
The work will also involve temporarily installing acoustic recording equipment to study wildlife. Residents may therefore encounter researchers or monitoring devices in areas covered by the assessment.
Wildlife, wetlands and habitats under assessment
The surveys aim to improve knowledge of Saint-Martin’s environmental characteristics and ensure the partial revision of the POS considers them.
The team will compile inventories of fauna and flora, examine natural habitats and identify wetlands. These findings will contribute to the environmental assessment accompanying the planning process.
Six-day provisional field schedule announced
The Collectivité published the following provisional schedule:
- Thursday, October 15: Anse-Marcel, particularly the Grand Pavois development zone (ZAC du Grand Pavois).
- Friday, October 16: Anse-Marcel, Cul-de-Sac and Grandes Cayes.
- Saturday, October 17: Grand-Case, Espérance, La Savane and Pigeon Pea Hill.
- Monday, October 19: Bellevue, Pierre-à-Chaux, Red Rock, Terres Basses and La Batterie.
- Tuesday, October 20: Étang aux Huîtres, Quartier d’Orléans, Morne Valois and Grand-Fond.
- Wednesday, October 21: Saint-Louis, Rambaud, Colombier, Mont de Marigot and Pic Paradis.
The timetable may change depending on weather conditions and field constraints.
Landowners urged to cooperate
The Collectivité invited landowners and occupants to welcome the ecologists and naturalists and support the assessment, subject to the requirement for prior consent for investigations on private property.
For further information, residents can contact Sabrina Placidoux, Director of the Department of Urban Development and Housing, by telephone at 0690 77 30 08 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..