Petition to Halt Development and Preserve Neltjeberg Beach as a Protected Public Resource

We, the undersigned, call on the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) to immediately pause development at Neltjeberg Beach (Permit No. PO0024-26; CMZ No. CMZIL0148-24) until full transparency, environmental review, and meaningful public input are provided.

Neltjeberg is one of the last largely undeveloped and publicly accessible sandy beaches on St. Thomas. It is not just a scenic place, it is a critical ecological, cultural, and community resource that cannot be replaced once altered.

Recent research has identified Neltjeberg as the most active sea turtle nesting beach on St. Thomas, including critically endangered species, like the hawksbill sea turtle, protected under U.S. federal law. It may also serve as a rare male-producing nesting site, which is increasingly important as warming temperatures across the Caribbean are causing most beaches to produce overwhelmingly female hatchlings (Ayres, 2022).

The surrounding gut and watershed support a rich ecosystem that is deeply interconnected with the health of the coastline and marine environment. Species present are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, underscoring the ecological sensitivity of the area.

For generations, Virgin Islanders have used Neltjeberg as a place for recreation, gathering, and connection, to themselves, each other, and the natural environment. Spaces like this are becoming increasingly rare, and once lost, they cannot be restored.

This petition is not anti-development.
We support local business and economic opportunity. We also recognize and respect the families who have stewarded this land for generations.

But we believe development must be:

• transparent
• environmentally responsible
• aligned with the long-term well-being of Virgin Islanders
• and consistent with established permitting and public process requirements 

There are outstanding questions regarding the permitting process. The current development project is believed to fall within a category that would require a public hearing under Coastal Zone Management and DPNR policy, raising concerns about whether proper procedures have been followed.

Across the Caribbean, communities are pushing back against development that prioritizes short-term tourism gains over public access, ecological integrity, and cultural continuity.

Neltjeberg represents a similar moment for St. Thomas.

We call on DPNR to:

1. Immediately pause development activity
2. Release all permits, plans, and environmental reviews to the public
3. Hold a formal public hearing and comment process
4. Ensure full environmental review that takes into account the impact on the land, sea, and the species that depend on it
5. Protect public access to the beach
6. Explore preservation pathways, including conservation easements, public-private partnerships, and potential integration into the territorial park system

Neltjeberg is not vacant land. It is a living system, a shared space, and a part of the island’s identity.

It already provides value, as habitat, natural infrastructure, and a space for community use and connection.

The decisions made now will determine whether future generations of Virgin Islanders will be able to experience this place as it exists today.

We urge DPNR to act with transparency, accountability, and care.

For a full breakdown of the ecological, cultural, and economic importance of Neltjeberg—as well as detailed arguments and sources, please read the full petition here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lCfJWJ2uF9Cso--oybnnJ-LikFwaKkZQBg19AqLMPwM/edit?usp=sharing