Mangroves play an important role in the environment. These kinds of forests support the planet in unique ways. They are especially resilient to the effects of climate change, and that is very important for a country like Suriname, whose low-lying coast holds 80 % of its major infrastructure and economic activities.

The Global Climate Change Suriname Adaptation Project (GCCA+) started in 2016 with the objective of increasing Suriname’s resilience to the impacts of climate change. Given the importance of mangrove ecosystems, one of the outputs was The National Mangrove Strategy (NMS), whose aim is to provide the government of Suriname  with technical advice for the sustainable management and conservation of mangroves.

The National Mangrove Strategy was completed in August this year handed over to the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Land and Forest management on the 17th of October 2019. The Mangrove Strategy is completed in close collaboration with the Mangrove Forum Suriname.   

The new strategy sets the stage for continuation and follow-up up the recommendations in the 6 reports which complete NMS, in following of the different  sub-objectives of the strategy. The six reports in annex of the NMS are: The Legal framework for Protection of Mangroves in Suriname, the review of The Management Plans of coastal protected areas; The Monitoring Pan for coastal protected areas, The National Mangrove Capacity Development Plan, the Lobbying Strategy and the report on Transfer of Technology. It is noteworthy that Minister Lekhram strongly supports the initiative to increase the resilience of Suriname’s coastal region to the impacts of sea-level rise. The ministry will proceed to create a ministerial committee, to begin implementing the Mangrove Strategy’s recommended priorities towards Integrated Coastal Zone Management.

2nd phase of GCCA+ Project

On the other hand, The Action Document for the 2nd phase of the GCCA+ Project, has been approved by the EU, and we expect this 2nd phase to start in early 2020. The efforts for mangrove conservation will be continued, although the focus will be on the western coast of Suriname. The UNDP will continue to build on the partnerships established in the 1st phase, in order to ensure the sustainability of the actions taken, and to continue achieving the established targets.

Below we have shared the speech which our UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Dr. Margaret Jones Williams made for the occasion:

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Paramaribo, Suriname.

His Excellency Minister Lekhram Soerdjan, Minister of Spatial Planning, Land and Forest Management (RGB), Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mrs Woei, Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is indeed a pleasure to be here with you this morning, as we mark a significant milestone in the project on the handover of the now finalized National Mangrove Strategy (...)

(...)The National Mangrove Strategy is an important output of the GCCA+ project and has been completed in collaboration with Mangrove Forum Suriname: a platform of persons, experts and institutions who are willing to invest in, and support, the conservation of mangrove ecosystems. This is an impressive, yet concise document that looks at the national context of mangrove conservation in Suriname; a vision that speaks to healthy nature and equitable sharing of benefits; and issues such as the economic value of mangrove ecosystems.

The endorsement of this strategy by the Ministry will serve as the first building block towards integrated coastal zone management. The GCCA+ Project has implemented other activities which also support the sustainable management and conservation of mangroves. These include:

• Strengthening of monitoring and patrolling capacity of the Nature Conservation Division (NCD), through purchase of 3 vehicles, 2 Boats, 2 outboard engines; field and office equipment; office supplies; fuel; and field gear for Game Wardens.

• Setting up of 12 Permanent Sampling Plots along the coast for Mangrove Biodiversity Monitoring, which is now incorporated into the national Forestry Inventory System.

• Rehabilitation of mangroves in the Western district of Nickerie, one of the vulnerable areas when it comes to sea-level rise.

See the full speech