Our Work
Guardians of CSNR
In 1998, the Central Suriname Nature Reserve (CSNR) was established by connecting the Raleighvallen, Tafelberg, and Eilerts de Haan nature reserves, covering approximately 1.6 million hectares. This expansion increased Suriname's protected areas from 3% to 13%. As one of the largest nature reserves in Latin America, the CSNR was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2002 due to its vast, pristine state, uninhabited and non-hunted areas, diverse ecosystems, rich biodiversity, and healthy, intact forests. Regular monitoring and immediate reporting of illegal activities are essential to preserving this critical area.
The Kwinti people have long served as guardians of the CSNR, possessing intimate knowledge of the area. Living in the villages of Witagron and Kaaimanston along the Coppename River, they depend on the ecosystem services provided by the CSNR for their livelihood. However, the community faces increasing threats from illegal logging, mining, and large-scale agricultural projects, heightening the urgency to protect both their land and the CSNR.
To address this, a team of nine (9) members from the Kwinti community has been recruited and trained for active involvement in monitoring and surveillance the Kwinti habitat and CSNR. This initiative, developed with the community's consent, includes training in threat detection using remote sensing (satellite imagery) and field data collection on biodiversity and threats, mapping irregularities, and reporting them to the authorities.
This effort not only enhances the protection of the CSNR but also provides employment opportunities within the community. The improved surveillance will ensure more effective and efficient conservation, safeguarding the reserve's invaluable natural resources.
Alternative Sources of Livelihoods
When the CSNR was established, the Kwinti population living in the surrounding area was not sufficiently involved in the process. Their needs were not considered, and only minimal rights of use were granted. The community received no direct benefits from the establishment of the CSNR, and the lack of income opportunities led to unsustainable or even destructive use of local resources. This, in turn, severely impaired or even damaged the quality of life for the local population.
Ecotourism activities could provide much-needed opportunities for these communities. Currently, the existing tourism offerings in the CSNR are organized by external providers and limited to day trips to the northern part of the park, with overnight stays at popular spots like the Voltzberg. Residents of the Kwinti communities of Witagron and Kaaimanston, living on the borders of the uninhabited nature reserve, benefit only marginally from these tourism activities, primarily by offering boat trips to points of interest.
However, these opportunities are exclusively available to men, further reinforcing existing power structures and excluding women from economic benefits. The current tourism model does not aim to integrate local communities or create new jobs but instead exploits the local population as cheap labor.
Introducing alternative income sources through ecotourism can provide new economic opportunities for all population groups, particularly women. This approach would improve the overall economic situation, increase the quality of life for the entire community, and help preserve the natural rainforest ecosystems surrounding these communities.
Wildlife Crime
The Illegal wildlife trade in live animals or animal parts significantly contributes to the biodiversity crisis, leading to the loss of thousands of animals each year and even driving species to the brink of extinction. Every species plays a vital role in maintaining the health of functioning ecosystems. Monkeys assist in seed dispersal, birds pollinate forests, and sharks maintain the balance of coral reef ecosystems, among other crucial roles. When animals are removed from their natural habitats, the ecosystem's ability to thrive is severely compromised.
Moreover, many poaching methods inflict additional damage by destroying surrounding habitats and harming both targeted and untargeted wildlife. This destruction exacerbates the challenges ecosystems face, hindering their capacity to recover and sustain biodiversity.
South Suriname, home to a rich diversity of wildlife, includes unique species such as the jaguar, tapir, and giant otter, and is inhabited by the Trio and Wayana people. In 2015, the Trio and Wayana declared their intent to protect 7.2 million hectares of pristine forest in collaboration with conservation and Indigenous organizations in Suriname. However, the country faces significant challenges in combating threats like mining, logging, and illegal wildlife trade.
The goal of this project is to prevent wildlife trade in a sustainable manner, by working with the Trio Indigenous people in the southern regions of Suriname, the village of Sipaliwini in particular, and to develop an action plan for wildlife trade prevention and sustainable income generation for the community of Sipaliwini. This will include raising awareness of the community in wildlife trade and the impacts, and capacity building of the community in sustainable wildlife management and conservation practices.
Ateles P.roject
Spider monkeys, native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, are remarkable primates known for their long limbs and prehensile tails, which they skillfully use to navigate the forest canopy. These highly social animals live in groups, or troops, that can range from just a few individuals to several dozen. In the central and southern regions of Suriname, Ateles paniscus, or Guiana black spider monkeys, are hunted by indigenous communities for food, a practice that poses a significant threat to their populations.
Hunting pressures are particularly concerning for spider monkeys due to their slow reproductive rate. Apart from hunting, deforestation and habitat disturbance is one of the most critical threats to these primates.
The first phase of the Ateles P.roject, a research program studying the Guiana black spider monkeys commenced in August 2024 and focuses on the unhunted and undisturbed population around the Voltzberg in the Central Suriname Nature Reserve (CSNR). This population was also studied in the 70's and is protected from hunting and habitat loss or destruction due to its protected and isolated location. This study assesses the impact of hunting on their group sizes and composition in an unhunted and hunted population.
Technology plays a crucial role in minimizing travel costs and enhancing fieldwork efficiency. The project utilizes canopy camera trapping, passive acoustic monitoring, and thermal drone flights, allowing the researchers to effectively assess group composition and size at the field sites.
Field Monitoring for the Creation of Nature Units
Information is collected from the forest and creeks to understand the health of nature and presence of species.
Training of the monitoring team is conducted for the installation, maintenance, and data collection of camera traps and bioacoustics recorders.
The stakeholders: The Trio (Alalapadu) and Kwinti people, BioTara, WildMon, Earthly Treasure, The Landbanking Group and WPS.
Giant Otter Conservation in Suriname
The Giant Otter is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. The total global Giant Otter population size is low but, more critically, individual subpopulations are fragmented and small. Because of its conspicuous behavior and social nature, this species is easy to extirpate and is therefore extremely vulnerable.
The main objective of this project is the development of conservation actions and awareness on the importance of the conservation of Giant otters in Suriname.
Rehabilitation and Maintenance Voltzberg Field Station
The Central Suriname Nature Reserve (CSNR) with an area of 1.6 million ha was established in 1998. The CSNR covers a part of the traditional living area of the Kwinti. The Reserve consists of an eco-tourism resort (Raleighvallen) and a field station for research and training purposes in the Voltzberg area.
The goal of this project is to restore the current field station at the foot of the Voltzberg in CSNR, and make it operational.