Working Together to Protect the Most Forested Country on Earth

As part of greater Amazonia, Suriname is the greenest country on Earth harboring 152,000 km² of forest, representing 93% of the country’s total land surface. Suriname is also one of the only two carbon negative countries in the world and harbors the world’s third largest renewable freshwater resources per capita. Because so much of its tropical forests remain intact, Suriname is thus a major stronghold for many species that are threatened in other parts of their Amazonian ranges such as the Jaguar, Giant Otter, Bearded Saki, Harpy Eagle, White-lipped Peccary, and many other species. Suriname’s forests are also home to Indigenous Amerindians and Maroon communities who have been living sustainably from the forests’ natural resources where they have been living in relative isolation for centuries.

In this project, re:wild will seek to improve the protection of Suriname’s tropical forests through strengthened institutional capacity, improved environmental monitoring and increased public knowledge.

The Swedish Postcode Foundation supports the project with SEK 5 000 000.

What the project delivers

A citizen science program will put the ability to make a positive difference directly in the hands of residents that will enable them to contribute to deforestation and wildlife occurrence data that will compliment sophisticated satellite monitoring efforts from above. In conjunction with the ongoing FOREST93 campaign with the slogan of “93% Forest, 100% Suriname” that celebrates and promotes national pride in Suriname’s natural heritage, this project seeks to ensure long-term protection of its tropical forests for generations to come.

Why we support this project

As part of the Swedish Postcode Foundation’s commitment to improving protection of the environment, we are piloting a new way of approaching the increasing challenges of climate change and loss of biodiversity by launching the Tropical Forest Initiative. This project is part of that effort.