The Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity

What The Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity does

The Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI) is a non-profit foundation established in 1955 and headquartered in Piscadera, Willemstad, Curaçao, within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It operates four pillars: marine and terrestrial scientific research, management of five national parks (Christoffel, Shete Boka, Curaçao Rif Mangrove, Curaçao Marine, and Seru Largu), nature and environment education, and environmental consultancy services. Its infrastructure includes a Marine Research Station, Science Center, Marine Education Center, library, native plant nursery (80+ species at Savonet), and an extensive GIS database covering cadastral, aerial, bathymetric, and protected-area maps for the Dutch Caribbean. The organization facilitated 40+ peer-reviewed studies and hosted 100+ international researchers annually, contributing to global initiatives such as the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) Caribbean report and the 'Science for Ocean Action' manifesto endorsed for the UN Ocean Conference.

CARMABI serves four primary customer segments: the general public and tourists visiting the national parks (297,069 visitors in 2023), Curaçao's primary and secondary schools receiving marine and terrestrial education programs (14,000 students in 2023), government agencies and businesses purchasing environmental consultancy services (biological inventories, GIS mapping, nature management plans), and international researchers and universities collaborating on Caribbean biodiversity and marine ecosystem studies. Revenue is generated through a mix of park visitation fees, donations and grants, environmental consultancy, native plant sales, and educational programming — typical pricing examples include NAF 7.50 for the Savonet Museum historical tour, NAF 10 for a Jeep Safari, and free entry to Día di Sabaneta Park excluding the mountain hike.

Name

The Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity

Legal name

CARMABI FOUNDATION

Website

https://carmabi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CARMABI is a Curaçao-based non-profit foundation (est. 1955) that manages five national parks, conducts marine and terrestrial biodiversity research, delivers environmental education to schools and tourists, and provides GIS and ecological consultancy across the Dutch Caribbean.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biodiversity Conservation and Park Management Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Biodiversity research services
• National park management
• Marine conservation
• Environmental consultancy
• Environmental education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Willemstad

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Park Visitation Fees: Revenue from visitors to national parks including Christoffel National Park, Shete Boka National Park, Curaçao Rif Mangrove Park, Curaçao Marine Park, and Seru Largu National Park
2. Environmental Consultancy Services: Expert guidance on environmental management, conservation, and sustainable development provided to government agencies, businesses, and organizations including biological inventories, ecological research, nature management plans, visitor surveys, and GIS mapping services
3. Native Plant Sales: Native plants from the Savonet nursery sold for use in gardens to support local flora and fauna conservation
4. Donations and Grants: As a non-profit foundation established in 1955, CARMABI receives donations and institutional funding to support conservation and research activities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CARMABI conducts marine and terrestrial biodiversity research, manages five national parks in Curaçao (Christoffel, Shete Boka, Curaçao Rif Mangrove, Curaçao Marine, and Seru Largu), provides environmental consultancy services including GIS mapping and biological inventories, and delivers nature and environment education programs to schools and the community. The foundation also operates the Marine Education Center at its Piscadera research campus and the Savonet Native Plant Nursery for ecosystem restoration.

Product overview

The Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI) is a non-profit foundation managing five national parks (Christoffel National Park, Shete Boka National Park, Curaçao Rif Mangrove Park, Curaçao Marine Park, and Seru Largu National Park) while conducting marine and terrestrial scientific research and providing environmental education programs. The organization operates Environmental Consultancy Services offering biological inventories, GIS mapping, and ecosystem restoration, alongside educational offerings including the Marine Education Center, Marine Youth Rangers Program, and various curriculum-aligned materials (Coral Heroes, Nos Medio Ambiente, Snoop Doggy, Deep Sea Education, and Nos Yuananan). The organization also maintains a Native Plant Nursery for conservation and ecosystem restoration purposes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Christoffel National Park The largest protected area on Curaçao, spanning over 2,300 hectares and featuring the island's highest peak (Christoffelberg at 372m), diverse flora and fauna including the Curaçao White-tailed Deer, and cultural heritage sites including the Savonet Museum. Visited by 54,000 visitors in 2023.
• Shete Boka National Park

Quantifiable outcome

• 297,069 park visitors in 2023
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• One Ocean Science CongresscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CARMABI endorsed the 'Science for Ocean Action' manifesto presented at the congress, to be presented to delegations at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in Nice.
• Coca-ColaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Donated recycling bin to CARMABI as part of partnership for a cleaner and more sustainable Curaçao.
• Ryan de Jongh FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for mangrove restoration in Curaçao, providing local environmental groups and researchers with access to mangrove seedlings for large-scale restoration projects.
• Bonaire's Mangrove ManiacsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Ranger Exchange Program for knowledge-sharing and skill development in mangrove conservation between Curaçao and Bonaire.
• Plein Air Curaçao International Art FestivalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Environmental awareness collaboration where artists transformed waste collected from Mangrove Park into sculptures of marine life.
• SECORE InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on coral reef restoration and coral larvae cultivation techniques developed in Curaçao. SECORE organizes coral rearing programs at CARMABI involving local youth, NGOs, and international participants from Bahamas, Bonaire, St. Croix, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Honduras.
• REACT (Reef Enhancement and Community Training)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal foundation involved in coral reef enhancement and community training for coral restoration efforts.
• Reef Renewal Foundation CuraçaocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on coral restoration initiatives at the Curaçao Marine Park.
• The DiveShop CuraçaominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal dive operator partner in coral restoration programs.
• Inkfish ExpeditionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational team that conducted deep-sea research expedition around Curaçao, exploring mesophotic coral ecosystems down to 150 meters and mesopelagic twilight zone below 200 meters, reaching depths of approximately 700 meters.
• California Academy of SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on deep-sea research expedition producing educational materials for secondary schools about deep-sea ecosystems around Curaçao.
• Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on spatial planning for Curaçao, mapping future land use and creating clear visualizations of different visions for the island's development.
• Veterinary Centers CuraçaocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on animal welfare education project 'Snoop Doggy' - a bilingual (Dutch-Papiamentu) storybook teaching children that pets are living beings requiring love, attention, and care.
• Dutch Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (OWCS)coreOthersGovernment ministry headed by Minister Sithree van Heydoorn that conducted working visit to CARMABI to strengthen scientific collaborations and promote education and nature conservation.
• Dutch Iguana FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on iguana conservation lesson series 'Nos Yuananan / Our Iguanas' for secondary education.
• Iguana Specialist GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on iguana conservation lesson series for secondary education.
• Aeres University of Applied SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeacher training institution whose student Yoni Muggen - van Uden created the iguana lesson series as her graduation project.
• Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARMABI researchers contributed to the GCRMN report on the status of Caribbean reefs (1970-2024), compiling 23,742 surveys from around 200 scientists.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International: Global NGO operating blue-economy and biodiversity programs in the Caribbean, including reef monitoring and policy advocacy. Comparable as a science-and-policy counterpart that competes for the same blue-economy and climate-finance funding pools CARMABI is targeting.
• The Nature Conservancy (Caribbean Program): Global environmental NGO with active Caribbean operations and funded projects in Curaçao and the Dutch Caribbean. Overlaps CARMABI on biodiversity research, climate adaptation and protected-area management but at a much larger, multi-country scale.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Global conservation organisation running large-scale species and habitat programs across the Caribbean including marine reserves. Comparable to CARMABI in marine park science and policy engagement, but with significantly larger budgets and geographic reach.

Direct peers

• DCNA (Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance): Umbrella NGO coordinating conservation across the six Dutch Caribbean islands, providing institutional support to park management organisations including CARMABI. Directly comparable as a Dutch-Caribbean conservation coordinator with overlapping mandate on protected-area management and biodiversity funding.
• STINASU (Stichting Natuurbeheer Suriname): Suriname's national nature conservation foundation, founded 1969, managing multiple protected areas and conducting biodiversity research. Directly comparable to CARMABI as a Dutch-Caribbean/Royally-affiliated non-profit that integrates park management, research, education, and consultancy under one roof.
• STINAPA Bonaire (National Parks Foundation): Manages Bonaire National Marine Park and Washington Slagbaai National Park under a similar non-profit, multi-park model funded by user fees, donations, and government grants. The closest functional peer to CARMABI's five-park structure, just in a neighbouring Dutch Caribbean island.
• STCB (Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire): Long-running sea turtle and marine conservation organisation in the Dutch Caribbean, operating ranger and education programs analogous to CARMABI's Marine Youth Rangers and Shete Boka sea turtle monitoring. Same donor/government funding model and similar island-scale operating footprint.

Emerging players

• SECORE International: Coral reef restoration non-profit that collaborates with CARMABI on coral larvae cultivation. Adjacent rather than head-to-head, but operates in the same Curaçao marine research/restoration niche and competes for similar coral-conservation grants.
• Reef Renewal Foundation: Active coral restoration operator across the Caribbean including Curaçao Marine Park. Functionally comparable in coral restoration technique and grant-funded model, though its primary operating base is Bonaire.

Regional players

• Fundación Ecológica Punta Cana (Ecorancho): Dominican Republic-based foundation managing protected areas, conducting native species restoration and environmental education. Comparable as a Caribbean non-profit combining park operations, restoration, and education, though operating in a different national jurisdiction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CarmabiFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/curacaomarinepark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carmabi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity