Written by Kevin Herbert

History of Forest Management in Suriname

Suriname became a colony of the Netherlands in the second half of the 17th Century with the main objective to develop a settlement of Dutch planters. Until the end of the 18th century, the colony was prosperous and able to produce cotton, coffee, and especially sugar for the European markets. Early records on forest exploitation in Suriname refer to the harvesting of “Letterhout” by Amerindians who used it as currency in trade with colonists from Europe. It was reported that already in 1650, Letterwood was purchased by sailors from the Dutch Province of Zeeland. This valuable commodity was very much in demand for the manufacturing of letterheads for printing offices. Not much else is known about these early days of forest exploitation. The proposed management system was inspired by the selection forest concept, developed by the forestry schools of Switzerland as an alternative to clear felling. Yet, Berkhout regarded clear felling of the natural forest and conversion to forest plantations of commercial timber species as the best option for Suriname. A parallel might be seen in the management of the production forests on the heavily populated island of Java, where the teak was nearly all planted with a taungya agroforestry system. In scarcely populated Suriname, however, the taungya system was not suitable because it brought no tangible incentives for local farmers, as they did not need to compete for forestland. When the Suriname Forest Service (LBB) was re-established in 1947, there was a high expectation regarding the possibilities of expanding forest production and creating a forest-based industry. The key to success would be the introduction of wise forest management accompanied by public investments in forest infrastructure. Despite a promising start and dynamic initiatives of the Forest Service for a period of approximately 30 years, the results were not very impressive. The only forest industry that could meet international standards was that of the Bruynzeel Wood Company Inc (BSH), which was established around 1947. Development of a sustainable forest management system, such as the CMS, was somewhat complex, and it took quite a few years before a polycyclic management system was finally considered most suitable for the tropical rain forest of Suriname. Such a system can restrict the invasion of woody weed species, in contrast to the heavy disturbance caused by application of a monocyclic system, as was concluded from the Mapane and Kabo field experiments. The relatively small volume of projected harvests of 20 to 30 m3. ha-1 in polycyclic systems is economically a disadvantage, but restricts disturbance of the ecosystem, which is 24 2. The history of use and management of forests in Suriname was very important for tree regeneration and the continuity of other ecosystem processes. Furthermore, no intensive (and thus expensive) silviculture, such as clearing, planting and weed control, appears to be needed to create large standing volumes over long periods. These and several other aspects were essential for the development of the CELOS Silvicultural System (CSS) and the CELOS Harvesting System (CHS), and finally for their integration in the CELOS Management System (CMS).

Research funded by the Wenner-Gren Foundation and the ERC starting grant in Suriname

What did the forest look like before people arrived and settled in the landscape of Boven Suriname?

To study how maroon communities have shaped Surinamese forests over time, A reconstruction was made of the landscape of the past (going back thousands of years). The landscape was near an archaeological site called ‘Beng Tau’, where Maroons lived in the 17th century. Using plant fossils and charcoal remains, a reconstruction of the forest from the past was made to research if people were using fire and growing crops, and how the forests recovered from that. The charcoal remains and plant fossils, particularly from maize and banana, confirmed that Saamaka Maroons had settled in the area since ca. 1700 and practised slash-and-burn agriculture near the archaeological site called ‘Beng Tapu’. The site may have been a cooking area, because remnants of pottery with maize, rice and banana were found. Within 1 km of Beng Tapu, large fragments of charcoal and plant fossils from maize and banana were also found. Smaller charcoal fragments and a banana were found within 5 km of the archaeological site. Nowadays, agriculture is practised within 8 km of the archaeological site and the Suriname River. The area used for agriculture likely expanded over time.

How did the forest recover from these activities?

Within 1 km of the archaeological site, forests were burnt and used multiple times. Here, forests have a lower biomass than further away from Beng Tapu, meaning fewer or smaller trees have grown back. Also, Attalea and Oen carpus palm trees increased. Still today, the Saamaka Maroon community uses the maripa palm to make oil. Therefore, the number of maripa palms may have increased due to human activities like cooking and oil production! Attalea and Oenocarpus palms are also adapted to open conditions and fire, showing the influence people had on the environment and how the forest responded to fires.

A long human history, and an Indigenous archaeological site?

The Saamaka Maroons were not the first people to have inhabited the forests near Botopasi. Charcoal fragments show that people were in the region already 2000 years ago, and fire events occurred ca. 2000, 1700,1500, 1300, 1200 and 800 years ago. We don’t know which Indigenous Cultures may have inhabited this region because of limited archaeological and historical research here. Large charcoal fragments were found ca. 7 km away from Beng Tapu, across the Suriname River. Could this be an Indigenous archaeological site?

The Ambitious 90% forest preservation, which exceeds the global conservation goal

Suriname already has the world’s highest share of forest cover, with about 93% of its land blanketed in tropical rainforest. Most of that remains primary forest untouched by logging, agriculture or mining. Scientists say Suriname is one of only three countries worldwide that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits — a so-called “carbon sink” — making its forests a critical buffer against global warming. “We understand and accept the immense responsibility of stewarding over 15 million hectares of tropical rainforest in a world that is seeing its forests fall day in and day out,” Geerlings-Simons said in remarks released by her office. The pledge far surpasses the “30×30” global target — a U.N.-backed goal for countries to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030. It comes weeks before COP30, the U.N. climate summit that will be hosted in Belem, Brazil, at the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The new law will allow for improved approaches to legally protecting Suriname’s vast forests and could be a step toward recognising and protecting the ancestral lands of the country’s Indigenous and Tribal Peoples. The regulatory framework will help support nature tourism and bioeconomy industries and allow for more opportunities in the carbon market. Suriname has 22 protected areas, and its forests are home to thousands of wildlife species. More than 100 species of amphibians live in Suriname, including the striking okopipi (blue poison dart frog). Highly charismatic mammals, such as lowland tapirs, jaguars, giant river otters and eight primate species range throughout the country. Harpy eagles and scarlet macaws are some of the more than 700 bird species in the country. “This sets a new standard for the Amazonian region as a whole, which has suffered from serious deforestation in recent decades,” said Russell Mittermeier, chief conservation officer at Re: wild, a global conservation nonprofit. Backing this bold initiative is a coalition of environmental donors, which has committed $20 million to finance the effort and support local jobs tied to forest protection. Conservationists have praised the move as unprecedented for the Amazon, a region that has seen deforestation rates climb in 2025 despite repeated international promises to reverse forest loss. The stakes are high, and the challenges are real. Despite international court rulings and the promise of new legal frameworks, illegal activities continue to gnaw at the edges of Suriname’s forests. The lack of formal recognition for the land rights of Indigenous and Maroon peoples leaves these communities in a precarious position, undermining their ability to act as effective stewards of the land.

Conclusion

New York Climate Week witnessed Suriname’s new president declare, under compelling circumstances, promises to eternally protect most of Suriname’s tropical rainforest. No other rainforest protectorate of the Amazon has made such bold promises to maintain its environmental bounty. Suriname has deep human resources to assist the president in keeping his promises, especially the fabled Maroons. They, and the indigenous peoples, have shaped the remaining rainforest with their unique techniques of fire and farming. Suriname’s promise to maintain and protect its bounty offers a unique opportunity to encourage eco-tourism and promote local deforestation-averse entrepreneurs. Suriname’s promise contends with inherited restrictions on enforcement while upholding the global biodiversity of deforested regions.

References

Suriname pledges to shield 90% of forests, far beyons global conservation goal | AP News
2-J.Hendrison-N.R.deGraaf-1.pdf
The long history of people in the rainforest of Suriname | Ecology of the past
Suriname pledges to permanently protect 90% of its forests, far exceeding the 30×30 global goal for climate and biodiversity protection – Rainforest Trust
Suriname pledges to shield 90 percent of forests Suriname Pledges Bold Forest Protection Far Exceeding Global Goals – Grand Pinnacle Tribune