Virgin Islands Beach Preserved

The Trust for Public Land has preserved a stretch of beach in the Virgin Islands near Maho Bay that will eventually be added to the Virgin Islands National Park, allowing for the park's biggest expansion in 50 years. "This is one of the finest beaches in the world, and it is right in the middle of one of our nation's most popular parks. We are excited that it will now be protected for all visitors and locals to enjoy," said Greg Chelius, director of TPL's Florida and Caribbean program.

The 419-acre property, known as Estate Maho Bay, includes more than one-quarter mile of beachfront on pristine Maho Bay and rises to almost 1,000 feet in height. It also has significant ruins from the Danish colonial era, 1700-1860, and may have pre-Columbian cultural resources from the Taino Indians. The property cost $19 million, and the Trust for Public Land is aiming to raise $35 million because it has its sights set on other parcels that would enhance the national park. The Virgin Islands is U.S. territory.

Many park visitors are unaware of it, but land trusts like the Trust for Public Land often work hand-in-hand with government agencies. Parks agencies identify priority lands for parks, either because of their ecological importance or potential for human recreation, and the private land trusts leverage their members' donations or endowments to make the purchases.

Governments then buy back the land from the private organization. In this way, new parks can be protected at a pace faster than government bureaucracy allows, but ultimately the land is preserved as a public asset. A pioneering ecoresort, Maho Bay Camps, caters to visitors in this part of St. John.

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