Created on October 10, 1996, the Saint-Barthélemy Nature Reserve - Nicole AUSSEDAT covers 1,200 hectares of marine area. It is the 132nd Nature Reserve in France. These reserves, located throughout France (metropolitan and overseas), have three inseparable missions: to protect natural environments, animal and plant species and geological heritage; to manage sites; and to raise public awareness.
It was back in 1988 that personalities such as “Don” COMB, President and founder of the New England Biolab Foundation, Nicole AUSSEDAT, Michel MAGRAS, Jean AUBIN and Patrice GOUARD, who were interested in the protection of marine biota, set up the first Association de Protection de la Nature de Saint-Barthélemy (APNSB). This was followed by a long period of scientific studies to determine the areas to be protected, and a great deal of persuasion, notably by Nicole AUSSEDAT with users and Michel MAGRAS with elected representatives, to create a nature reserve.
On January 27 1995, the town council, chaired by Daniel BLANCHARD, officially approved the Nature Reserve project. All that remained was to convince the State. At the request of the new municipal team elected in May 1995 and its mayor Bruno MAGRAS, Michel MAGRAS was asked to present the project to the DIREN and the Commission des Sites.
Management of the Nature Reserve was then entrusted to the “Association de gestion de la réserve marine de Saint-Barthélemy” (GRENAT), of which Daniel BLANCHARD became president on its creation, followed a few years later by Jean-Claude PLASSAIS. Management was subsequently transferred to the Territorial Environnment Agency (ATE).
A succession of directors followed: Patrick BLANPAIN, Franciane LE QUELLEC and Olivier RAYNAUD. Since 2018, Sébastien GREAUX took over.
Over the years, scientific monitoring has been strengthened, missions expanded, regional cooperation developed, the team enlarged and an environmental education program deployed in all schools.
The credit for the work accomplished also goes to the volunteers and all the teams who have succeeded one another.
“Don” Comb
Michel Magras
Daniel Blanchard
Franciane LE QUELLEC
Olivier RAYNAUD
