SURINAME

The greenest country on Earth© CRISTINA MITTERMEIERWHAT’S AT STAKE?
Suriname retains 93% of its original forest cover — thehighest percentage in the world. These precious forests
allow Suriname to be a carbon-negative country,
meaning the country removes more greenhouse gases
from the atmosphere than it emits.
However, deforestation is increasing rapidly. Gold mining
and infrastructure, mainly road construction, are the main
drivers of deforestation and habitat destruction in
Suriname. If we act now, we can curtail the deforestationand coastal erosion that threaten climate stability andlivelihoods of thousands of people and wildlife.

SIPALIWINI DISTRICT, UPPER PALUMEU, SURINAME © TROND LARSEN

At the same the recent Forest Reference of Emissions Levels study shows that in Suriname most of the emissions
are ascribed to the forestry sector (51%). As such, more focus will be given to adopt a Climate Smart Forestry (CSF)approach.

Conservation International (CI) Suriname works to:Help maintain 93% forest cover by implementing CI’s Green Growth Strategyin support of sustainable economic growth and strategic use of the country’s
natural capitalWHERE WE WORK.
CI works in the South of Suriname to protect
intact forests and improve livelihoods; in Mid
Suriname to curb deforestation; and in the Northof Suriname to protect mangroves and support
sustainable fishing in coastal communities.

CI Suriname Conservation Indicators
7.4 million hectares conserved

6.2 billion tons of carbon stored
268,000 direct beneficiaries
161.5 million indirect beneficiaries
PARAMARIBO, SURINAME © RENE OCKHUIJSEN

Protecting Forests and Oceans for People, Nature and Climate.

TRIO AND WAYANA PROTECT LAND AND NATURE IN SOUTHERN SURINAME (TWTIS)CI and our partners established the TWTIS program to secure irreplaceable ecosystems through a newcommunity conservation area in the South of Suriname. We are supporting indigenous communities to comanage 7.2 million hectares in TWTIS. We helped update Suriname’s Nature Conservation Act, and are building
local capacity and engaging stakeholders to eﬀectively manage and conserve these remote, intact community
living areas.
To provide economic alternatives to deforestation, CI uses
conservation agreements. This incentive-based strategy outlines
conservation actions that communities who own and use natural
resources agree to carry out in exchange for direct benefits. The
Alalapadu, one of nine TWTIS communities, agreed tosustainably harvest Brazil nuts, regulate agouti hunting andmonitor vegetation burning in exchange for capacity building andthe establishment of an oil processing facility.
As a result, 43 jobs have been created, employing nearly 87% of
the adult population, generating 2,547 liters of Brazil nut oil and$62,134 in revenue during the first 18 months of the pilot. CI
seeks to expand our eﬀorts to the 8 remaining TWTIS
communities, working to support sustainable livelihood projects
identified by each village.

TWTIS in the South of Suriname

COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PROGRAM

Community Conservation Program

CI is working with Matawai tribal communities toprotect and sustainably manage their communityforest. This program spans across the Mid-Region ofSuriname, where most of the deforestation in thecountry occurs. By sustainably managing 97,000
hectares and conserving 39,000 hectares of forest,
CI and the Matawai community have been able toreduce deforestation in their community forest. CIS
aims to empower the Matawai and local authorities
to sustainably manage their community forest
through the implementation of Climate Smart
Forestry (CSF) practices, resulting in reducedemissions, while creating sustainable finance andlivelihood opportunities.

© CRISTINA MITTERMEIEROUR PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES.

COMMUNITY FISHERIES IMPROVEMENT PROJECTOur Goal
CI works to improve the conditions of Suriname’s coastal fisheries and supporting ecosystems critical to community
livelihoods, and protect endangered, threatened and protected marine species. We aim to bring 60% of seafood
production to sustainable levels by increasing awareness of sustainable fishing practices.
Our Eﬀorts
CI is working with the University of Suriname to reduce bycatch ofendangered, threatened and protected species in coastal
community fisheries. Bycatch occurs when fishers unintentionallycatch species other than their target species. Currently, CI is testing
innovative bycatch reduction devices. Additionally, we coordinated amulti-stakeholder workshop with over 30 representatives, including
local fisheries, government agencies, scientific institutions, civilsociety, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Maritime
Authority of Suriname to provide technical assistance and capacity
building to improve sustainable fisheries in coastal communities.
Take-Away
Through this project, CI is bringing awareness of the importance ofresponsibly managing and protecting marine ecosystems to improve
the livelihoods of local communities and fisheries. In the comingmonths, we seek to identify new market opportunities that value
sustainable fishing practices.

Community Fisheries
Improvement Project

MITIGATING COASTAL EROSION
Building with NatureWith the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, CI is working in
the northern coast of Suriname to mitigate erosion through theapplication of wave-breaking and sediment trapping techniques.
What is a STU?
A Sediment Trapping Unit (STU) is a cost-eﬀective structure builtof wallaba wood and bamboo that filters out sediment fromseawater. STUs are used to trap sediment to improve conditions
for mangrove growth. To complement this natural mangrove
growth, researchers, members of the community and thegeneral public are planting mangroves in the newly formed
sediment bank, helping nearby communities adapt to climateinduced sea level rise.

SEDIMENT TRAPPING UNIT IN WEG NAAR ZEE, SURINAME© CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL

Seeing Results
The STUs have shown improvement in stabilizing the coastline,
generating new mangroves and increasing the prevalence ofbird sightings. Through capacity building and public awareness,
communities in the area are learning about the importance ofmangrove restoration and the benefits that mangroves provide
for their well-being.

CI’S FIRST NATIONAL WILDLIFE PROGRAM
CI launched its first wildlife program to bring legal and illegal wildlife trade and hunting to sustainable levels for ninepriority species in Suriname. The initial focus is on training, recruitment and networking to build the foundation of arobust and lasting program. This program aims to secure healthy wildlife populations by preventing wildlife trade,
habitat loss and poaching.

Nature doesn’t need people. People need nature.

Each year$1.5 million is needed to accomplish our conservation priorities

With your support, CI Suriname will:• Continue to develop our National Wildlife Program to ensure healthy wildlife

populations and help set-up an educational center for nature and wildlife.
• Establish additional conservation agreements with the 8 remaining indigenouscommunities in South Suriname• Collaborate with the Matawai to sustainably manage an additional 60,000 hectaresof community forest• Support recovery of small-scale fisheries through our Community Fisheries

Improvement Projects (CFIP), innovative financial models and social marketingstrategies.
• Develop an awareness campaign on the importance of healthy marine ecosystems© CRISTINA MITTERMEIEROUR CALL TO ACTION.

“Taking care of nature means taking care ofourselves and our economy, and a better
future for ourselves and our children. At CI, it’sa matter of developing the best way to do that.

”John GoedschalkExecutive Director, CI Suriname

Country contact:
Loes Trustfull & Remesa Lang
Kromme Elleboog Straat 20
Paramaribo, Suriname
Phone: +597 421 305
ci-suriname@conservation.org
January 2021