Environmentalist Bervoets Presents Research on Colonial Legacies in Caribbean Environmental Governance

Sint Maarten environmentalist Tadzio Bervoets recently presented research at the Caribbean Studies Association Conference, focusing on colonial influences in Caribbean environmental governance. Titled “Conservation Colonialism and the Persistence of Fortress Management in the Dutch and French Caribbean,” his presentation argued that many conservation systems in the region remain shaped by governance models concentrating authority outside the Caribbean. Bervoets' research indicated that these arrangements frequently limit local decision-making, restrict community participation, and reduce opportunities for Caribbean leadership within environmental institutions. The presentation also highlighted the continued influence of metropolitan governments and external institutions on the region's environmental policies, technical expertise, and management frameworks.