If you've ever visited Saba, you know it's a place unlike any other – a tiny island with towering mountains, lush forests, and breathtaking coastlines. And now, there's a new and exciting way to experience and protect this natural paradise: Hope Spot Stops!
As a proud Mission Blue Hope Spot Champion, the Sea & Learn Foundation is always looking for innovative ways to raise awareness for Saba’s incredible natural resources. That's why we're launching Hope Spot Stops, a fun citizen science project designed to let both locals and tourists get involved in the conservation of Saba’s unique ecosystems – all while snapping some awesome photos!
What Are Hope Spot Stops?
Inspired by the CoastSnap initiative – a global citizen science project that uses repeat photos to track coastal changes – Hope Spot Stops are special photo stations set up at key locations around the island. These stations allow anyone with a phone (yes, that means you!) to snap a picture of Saba’s stunning landscapes, which will then contribute to valuable scientific data. It’s a simple way to help monitor how Saba’s coastlines (and other areas) are changing over time, and you don’t need to be a scientist to participate! By using a technique called photogrammetry, the photos taken at these stops are turned into data that can be used by scientists to understand and forecast how Saba’s landscape might change in the coming decades. This could include tracking things like coastal erosion, the effects of climate change, or even the health of coral reefs.
Where Can You Find These Stops?
The Sea & Learn Foundation is working closely with the Saba Conservation Foundation to pick the best spots for these stations – places that showcase the island’s natural beauty while also providing meaningful data. The first two Hope Spot Stops are already up and running at Well’s Bay and Giles Quarter/Dancing Place – perfect spots for a photo op, if you ask us!
But that’s just the beginning! In 2025, additional Hope Spot Stops will be installed at some of Saba’s most iconic locations, including:
Sulphur Mine
Mt. Scenery
Spring Bay
Botanical Garden
Thais Hill
Coral Nursery
Moreef urchin site
These spots were selected not just for their beauty, but because they provide opportunities to track important changes, from coastal erosion and tree growth to the impact of climate change on Saba’s ecosystems.
How Can You Get Involved?
Getting involved in the Hope Spot Stops project is easy – and fun! Whether you're a local or a visitor, you can stop by any of the Hope Spot Stops, take a photo at the station, and share it with the community. Your image will contribute to a time-lapse collection of photos that track the changes in these areas over time. Who knew your vacation pics could help save the planet?
But that's not all! These stops aren’t just about collecting data. They're also about celebrating Saba’s natural beauty and giving people a reason to get outside, explore the island, and learn about conservation. The Hope Spot Stops will serve as selfie stations – perfect for capturing memories while also supporting a great cause. Plus, as part of the initiative, the Sea & Learn Foundation is working to create an app that will allow users to easily upload their photos, track changes, and access educational content about the island’s conservation efforts. It’s an interactive, fun way to stay engaged and informed about the ongoing protection of Saba’s delicate ecosystems.
Why It Matters
The Hope Spot Stops initiative is more than just a cool photo opportunity. It’s a way for people to actively contribute to the protection of Saba’s natural treasures. By taking part in this citizen science project, you’re helping to track critical changes like:
Erosion: How Saba’s coastlines are being shaped (and sometimes eroded) by waves, storms and other factors.
Climate Change: Understanding how shifting weather patterns are impacting local ecosystems.
Coral Restoration & Reforestation: Monitoring the success of efforts to restore vital ecosystems that support marine life and wildlife.
And it’s not just for tourists – locals are getting involved too, with the project offering a great after-school activity for kids, sparking interest in science and the environment from a young age. Plus, as the project grows, Hope Spot Stops will provide even more opportunities to engage with the island’s natural world in exciting new ways!
Ready to Snap, Share, and Conserve?
Whether you’re a Saba native or a first-time visitor, the Hope Spot Stops are your chance to be part of something big – a global movement dedicated to protecting the planet’s precious resources, one photo at a time. So, grab your phone, find a Hope Spot Stop, and help us capture the changing landscape of Saba. Every photo counts in this effort to monitor and conserve the island's incredible natural beauty!
Please share your photos with us at seaandlearnsaba@gmail.com
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