“In 2025, Tropenbos Suriname will focus its activities on locally supported development. This means that dependent communities can take control of their own development on the forest. ” This says Tropenbos Suriname director Rudi van Zieten. The organization will mainly concentrate on landscape management, forest management and agroforestry.
“Together with the other green NGOs, TBS will continue to communicate with policy makers about what is good for nature. In addition, we continue to propose building blocks for the realization of the collective land rights and the process afterwards. ” Van Zieten is proud of the operations of the organization in the past year. This was successful thanks to his strong team.
“We are now really focusing on the young people in the areas where we are active. Young people play an important role in the communities because they know them well ”
“People often look in organizations at what is not going well, such as communication or discipline. But when you turn it around, you see that a lot has been achieved. For example, make a snapshot of three years ago and compare it now to see which progress has been made. “
Tropenbos Suriname is a knowledge-based, non-governmental organization that is committed to sustainable forest management and conservation. The organization focuses on knowledge development, capacity amplification and organizational reinforcement. As a knowledge broker, TBS translates relevant information into actions and policy, with the aim of improving landscape management, administration, trade and financial practices.
Since its founding in 2003 as a program part of Tropenbos International (the Netherlands), Tropenbos Suriname has developed into one of the most important green NGOs in Suriname. In 2017, all country programs were transformed into independent network organizations. The focus is mainly on the southern part of Suriname, in the Para, Brokopondo and Sipaliwini districts.
TBS recently intensified its activities, including with extra training sessions in Agroforestry. In addition, TBS works closely with the Association of Saamaka Communities to strengthen the capacity of local communities and to inform them about land rights, among other things.
Milestones 2024
The largest project of the organization in 2024 was the official start of the first Agroforestry Farmers’ Field School in Suriname. The organization had been planning for some time and has now started implementing this groundbreaking project. The construction of the building of the Agroforestry Farmers’ Field School in Brownsweg started in September. The organization strives to deliver the building in February 2025.
TotenEnergies ensures the financing of this project. The objectives of this project include setting up and maintaining a permanent agroforestry garden that will serve as a training facility and demonstration of the Agroforestry system. In addition, the project focuses on supporting farmers and conducting a training program aimed at good agricultural practices and agroforestry.
“This year we have to deliver the first group of trained farmers,” says project coordinator Ivan Karnadi. Tropenbos Suriname has been offering training to residents in the interior for some time to teach them how Agroforestry can be applied. For many residents this is a different way of making agriculture than they are used to. In the past, groups have been trained in Agroforestry techniques, including in the context of the ‘Agroforestry for Empowerment for Improved Land Management’ project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (Gef) Small Grants Program (SGP) Suriname, and the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF project).
“The weather was a big challenge. Due to climate change, we had to deal with long -term drought, which had negative consequences for work, such as transport to remote areas and the crops on the boarding grounds. As a result, we had many problems and had to extend the implementation of some projects, “said Karnadi.
Youth it or Lose it
“Another important project for the organization was the ‘Youth it or Lose IT’ regional workshop in Suriname,” says project coordinator Davita Oberg of the Working Landscapes program that includes this workshop. The activity took place from 12 to 17 October 2024 in Nieuw Aurora, Sipaliwini, in the context of the Youth It or Lose IT program of the Tropenbos International Network. This network supports young people from landscapes such as the Amazon, the Congobekken and Southeast Asia.
In the future, these young leaders will play an active role in decision -making at local, national and international level, while leading projects that contribute to living, biodiversity and the preservation of at least five million hectares of tropical bosecosystems. The meeting in Suriname was organized by Tropenbos International in collaboration with Tropenbos Suriname, Tropenbos Colombia and the Instituto Boliviano de Investigación Forestal (Ibif).
“We are now really focusing on the young people in the areas where we are active. Young people play an important role in the communities because they know them well. With them we can achieve the goals of the Working Landscapes program, “says Oberg. Women also play an important role within these projects.
“Usually young people and women are not heard in decision -making in the communities,” Oberg says. “It is important to support them too. That is why we have carried out projects such as capacity reinforcement for women. In addition, we support communities in the field of landscape management, which means that they learn how to better manage their environment. We also work on increasing awareness about land rights. “
The tree tour and forest by -products
According to project coordinator Niradj Hanoeman, the Tropenbos Suriname Bomentour in the city center was a successful event. During this activity in the spring of 2024, the public was informed about the trees around the Independence Square, Fort Zeelandia and the Combéweg. This event was part of the Urbaan Groen program. Within this program, society is reminded of the benefits of a ‘green’ environment. Research is also being done into the benefits that a green environment offers.
“It was also a good cooperation with the United Tour Guides of Suriname Foundation,” says Hanoeman. “The seminar ‘On the way to certification of forest by-products in Suriname’, organized in collaboration with the Center for Agricultural Research in Suriname (Celos) and with financing of the Tropenbos International Working Landscapes program, was also a good activity. It produced new insights about the sector.
This sector has a lot of potential to offer financial benefits to residents in the interior, provided that it is tackled more efficiently and effectively. Suriname generally does little with the sector. Various studies have shown that there are many possibilities within the sector, but investment is needed.
This year we will continue to work with other stakeholders on the development of an NFTP-Value Chain for Maripa in collaboration with residents of Pikin Slee. We also want to contribute to rehabilitating the Brownsberg Natuurpark with other partners.
