The Surinamese tradition of nature conservation

Suriname's strong tradition of nature conservation, its protection of biodiversity and its preservation of primary tropical forest is evidenced by a nature conservation system comprising 13 protected areas. These protected areas encompass a wide range of ecosystems, from tropical forests to coastal formations, making Suriname's nature conservation system one of the most representative in South America.

The Nature Protection Act of 1954 is the legislative cornerstone for conservation in Suriname. The act recognizes that establishing protected areas is important to scientific knowledge, recreation and education, as well as for ethical and economic reasons. To qualify as a nature reserve, an area must be noteworthy because of its biodiversity or varied landscape, or as a result of fauna, flora or geological features of scientific or cultural value.

Suriname is also party to numerous international treaties, both global and regional, that recognize the vital need for environmental protection. These treaties include the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (1971), the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (1973), the Treaty for Amazonian Cooperation (1978), the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), and the Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992).
With the inscription of the Central Suriname Nature Reserve on the World Heritage List, Suriname has established itself as a nation with outstanding universal heritage property. This means that next to the technical assistance and the funds for which Suriname is eligible now, it also has the responsibility to protect this heritage site, so that it will be maintained on the world heritage list. The realisation that Suriname has tropical forest of universal value will also contribute to the national perception of the own Surinamese nature.