Biodiversity in Suriname
Biodiversityin Surinameis high,[1]mostly because of the variety of habitats and the temperature. The average annual temperature in the coastal area is between 26° and 28°C. Suriname can be divided into four major ecological zones, namely from north to south;
- The young coastal plain
- The old coastal plain
- The Savannah or Zanderij belt
- The interior residual uplands.[2]
Habitats and species[edit]
The coast ofSurinameis wild and consists of mud banks, sand beaches, mangrove forests and lagoons. The Guiana current flows along the coast of Suriname. TheNorth Brazil Current,a warm water ocean current, is renamed as the Guiana current. The confusion surrounding its name is due partly to the seasonal change in flow of nearby currents.[3]Themangroveforests have only one story with a height of 20–25 meters. They are almost completely homogenous and dominated by black mangrove (Avicenna germinans). The mangrove forests are important as staging and wintering areas for birds, such as thescarlet ibis(Eudocimus ruber). However,poachingis a major problem in the coastal area. According to Ottema,[4]a 2006 study reveals that tens of thousands of protected shorebirds and waders are poached annually. The Nature Conservation Division of the Forestry ministry attempts to prevent poaching by employing more forest guards as well as through environmental education. Furthermore, Ottema opined that the Large-billed seed finch or Twatwa is almost extirpated.[5]
Inland from the mangroves lie salt water and brackishlagoons,surrounded by grass and fern vegetation with low plant species diversity. Theorange-winged amazon(parrot), creates it nest in the lagoons. Further inland, species rich freshwater and shrubswampscan be found. On the coastal plan, parallel to the shoreline, lie old sand and shell ridges. The savannabelt, a mosaic of diverse landscapes and ecosystems, is located south of the coastal plan. Different plants and animals, such as the love-vine (lenkiwisi) (Cassytha filiformis), sundews (Droserasp.), sabana-fungu (Licaniai acana),tortoises(Chelonodissp.),snakes,iguanas,deerand the long-nosed or naked- tailed armadillo (Dasypussp.) grow and live in the savannabelt of Suriname.
Four kind ofsea turtlescreate nest on the beaches. These sea turtles are:
- Aitkanti orleatherback turtle(Dermochelys corriacea)
- Krape orgreen turtle(Chelonia mydas)
- Warana orolive ridley sea turtle(Lepidochelys olivacea)
- Karet orhawksbill sea turtle(Eretmochelys imbricata).
Suriname is rich in freshwater resources. Suriname has 228.00 per capita cubic meters of renewable freshwater resources annually. However, these resources are seriously threatened by human activities, such as gold mining. Suriname has more or less 61 endemic freshwater fishes. According to Mol,[6]theAtlantic goliath grouper(Epinephelus itajara) is endangered.
In the highlands, mountains, such asBakhuys Mountains,Van Asch Van Wijck Mountains,Julianatop,are part of theGuiana Shield.The Guiana Shield is one of the regions of highest biodiversity in the world, and has manyendemicspecies. It can be said that thewhite-faced sakiis endemic tothe Guianas.TheGuianan piculet(Picumnus minutissimis) is probably endemic to Suriname. It has not been confirmed for neighboring countries.[7]
The rest of Suriname is covered with forests. Most of the forests are undisturbed because of the low human population density of 2.7 people /km. There are still new species discovered in Suriname. In 2012,Conservation InternationalSuriname (CIS) announced that 60 new species were discovered in het Grensgebergte andKasikasima.Among the newly discovered species were: the chocolate-colored"cocoa" frogand the juvenile planthopper.[8]
Number of groups of plants and animals in Suriname[edit]
The table shows the number of the groups of plants and animals which can be found in Suriname anno 2009.[9]
| Species | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mammals | 192 |
| Birds | 715 |
| Reptiles | 175 |
| Amphibians | 102 |
| Marine fish | 360 |
| Freshwater species | 318 |
| Plants | more or less 5,100 |
Nature Protection Act 1954 and the Game Act 1954[edit]
The Nature Protection Act 1954[10]and the Game Act 1954[11]are important for the protection of nature in Suriname. The Nature Protection Act 1954 regulates the establishment and the management ofnature reservesand other protected areas. The Game Act 1954 states which species of wild life may be hunted and during which period. There are four categories of wild animals, namely protected animals, game species, cage species and predominantly harmful species. Thegiant anteater,red-faced spider monkey,ocelot,jaguar,bush dogand theGuiana dolphinare some of the mammals that are under complete protection in Suriname.
Protected areas[edit]
Suriname has 11 Nature Reserves, 1 Nature park and 4 Multi Use Management Areas (MUMA "S). A protected area is an area set aside for the preservation and protection of highly important natural and cultural features, for the regulation of the scientific, educational and recreational use.[12]On March 5, 2015,the leaders of theindigenous peoples in Surinamepresented a declaration for the protection of a 7.2 million preserve, to members of parliament.Conservation International-Suriname and theWorld Wide Fund For Natureworked to support the vision of the Trio and Wayana communities to map the preserve and lay out strategies to fund and ensure the success of the initiative. The plan includes the provision of jobs for tribe members as rangers and guards. The indigenous leaders also intent to establish the value maintaining the unspoiled rivers.[13][14]
Protected Areas in hectares in 2010[edit]
The table shows the Protected Areas in Suriname inhectare(ha) in 2010.[15]
| Protected Areas | Total area (hectares) |
|---|---|
| Boven Coesewijne | 27,000 |
| Brinckheuvel | 6,000 |
| Central Suriname Nature Reserve | 1,592,000 |
| Copi Nature Reserve | 28,000 |
| Coppename monding | 12,000 |
| Galibi | 4,000 |
| Hertenrits | 100 |
| Peruvia | 31,000 |
| Sipaliwini Savanna | 100,000 |
| Wanekreek | 45,000 |
| Wia Wia | 36,000 |
| Brownsberg Nature Park | 12,200 |
| Bigi Pan | 67,900 |
| Noord Coronie | 27,200 |
| Noord Saramacca | 88,400 |
| Noord Commewijne | 61,500 |
| Total | 2,138,300 |
International conventions[edit]
Suriname is signatory to many international conventions aimed at protection and conservation of the biodiversity. The most important are theConvention on Biological Diversity,theConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Floraand theRamsar Convention on Wetlands.In 2007, the ministry of the Environment presented the National Biodiversity Strategy[16]and in 2013 the National Biodiversity Action Plan.[17]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^"Suriname".iNaturalist.org.
- ^"Downloads - Milieu Publicatie - Algemeen Bureau voor de Statistiek in Suriname".www.statistics-suriname.org.Archived fromthe originalon 2015-02-11.Retrieved2015-04-22.
- ^"The Guiana Current".oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu.
- ^"BirdLife Data Zone"(PDF).www.birdlife.org.
- ^Ottema, 2009, pg 347.
- ^Vakblad Bos en Natuur, nr. 4 jaargang 1, oktober 2010 (Dutch), Biodiversiteit van aquatische ecosystemen, Jan. H. Mol, pages 8-10.
- ^Ottema, 2009, pg 346.
- ^Environment Statistics, 2014, pg, 149.
- ^Environment Statistics of Suriname, 2014 (Dutch/ English), page 147.
- ^"Natuurbeschermingswet 1954 - De Nationale Assemblée".www.dna.sr.
- ^"Jachtwet 1954 - De Nationale Assemblée".www.dna.sr.
- ^Environmental statistics(2014), pg 115.
- ^"Indigenous leaders present plan to gov't for Suriname's largest official protected area".news.mongabay.com.
- ^Mittermeier, Dr. Russell A. (14 April 2015)."New Conservation Corridor Latest Environmental Triumph for..."
- ^Environmental Statistics, 2014,pg. 116.
- ^"REPUBLIC OF SURINAME Ministry of Labour, Technological Development and Environment Biodiversity Steering Committee NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY"(PDF).www.cbd.int.2006.Retrieved2019-06-28.
- ^"National Biodiversity Action Plan"(PDF).www.cbd.int.2013.Retrieved2019-06-28.
