Biodiversity in Suriname
Biodiversity in Suriname is 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
The coast of Suriname is wild and consists of mud banks, sand beaches, mangrove forests and lagoons. The Guiana current flows along the coast of Suriname. The North 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] The mangrove forests 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 the scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber). However, poaching is 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 brackish
sp.) grow and live in the savannabelt of Suriname.Four kind of
- Aitkanti or leatherback turtle(Dermochelys corriacea)
- Krape or green turtle(Chelonia mydas)
- Warana or olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
- Karet or hawksbill 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] the Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is endangered.
In the highlands, mountains, such as
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 International Suriname (CIS) announced that 60 new species were discovered in het Grensgebergte and Kasikasima. Among the newly discovered species were: the chocolate-colored "cocoa" frog and the juvenile planthopper.[8]
Number of groups of plants and animals in Suriname
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
The Nature Protection Act 1954
Protected areas
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.
Protected Areas in hectares in 2010
The table shows the Protected Areas in Suriname in hectare (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
Suriname is signatory to many international conventions aimed at protection and conservation of the biodiversity. The most important are the
See also
References
- ^ "Suriname". iNaturalist.org.
- ^ "Downloads - Milieu Publicatie - Algemeen Bureau voor de Statistiek in Suriname". www.statistics-suriname.org. Archived from the original on 2015-02-11. Retrieved 2015-04-22.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
- ^ "National Biodiversity Action Plan" (PDF). www.cbd.int. 2013. Retrieved 2019-06-28.