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MARIGOT--A 1.5 million-euro Institute of Biodiversity is one of the exciting future projects Réserve Naturelle is engaged in as part of the development contract between Collectivité and State, it was disclosed at a press conference hosted by Réserve Naturelle on Thursday in Anse Marcel.

Feasibility studies are close to completion for the project and State representative Romain Perreau confirmed that 1.5 million euros has been set aside for its creation. The Institute, however, is not expected to be inaugurated before 2017.

Réserve Naturelle Director Nicolas Maslach said the institute will combine elements of research institute, environmental awareness and eco-tourism while its objective will be to improve the knowledge of ecosystems in St. Martin and other islands, provide the Reserve with a scientific department, and facilitate exchanges between universities of the Caribbean and elsewhere.

Moreover, the institute will facilitate the management of ecosystems and the fishing industry, and implement training programmes related to the environment.

Maslach also talked about the European project BEST, which is coordinated in the Caribbean by CAR-SPAW and the Réserve Naturelle in St. Martin, and which has as its objective to establish the state of biodiversity in terms of conservation in each of the nine Ultra Peripheral Regions RUP territories and 25 Payes Territorials d'Outre Mer (PTOM) in the world.

The occasion was also an opportunity for the Réserve to present its best wishes for 2015. As such, a number of elected officials were invited by President of the Réserve Hervé Viotty.

Present were Vice-Presidents Ramona Connor, Wendel Cocks and Rosette Gumb-Lake, as well as Territorial Councillors René Jean-Duret and Alain Gros-Desormeaux. Member of Parliament Daniel Gibbs, prosecutor Flavien Noailles and various persons from State services were also there.

Noailles, who had written the editorial for the latest Réserve newsletter, said: "The manner in which you transmit your knowledge of the environment is intelligent and has permitted me to understand exactly what you do, and to appreciate the natural riches of the island. All that, and for your investigations, I say bravo."

Pierre Aliotti, vice-president of the association that manages the Réserve, congratulated the team for its work in policing the Réserve, realising various studies and conducting research on subjects for the enrichment of the territory's natural heritage.

Earlier, a minute of silence was observed for the 17 victims of the Paris massacre.