Multiple Use Management Areas Create Crucial Habitat for Shorebirds in Suriname

The conservation of coastal birds is an important management activity of the Suriname Forest Service, supported by various NGOs and the local communities. All shorebird species that occur in Suriname are legally protected, but historically they have been hunted in large numbers. According to local people, the hunt for protected birds in Suriname’s coastal zone has recently decreased due to the high fines. However, some people argue that effective management can only be achieved if regular patrols are performed. The vast size of the MUMAs is, among other things, one of the management challenges for the protection of shorebirds. However, aerial and ground surveys take place annually to document numbers of coastal birds. In addition, a subsection of the management plans for the Western MUMAs stress the importance of protecting coastal birds, including shorebirds.

Engagement with the local community, in particular resource users such as farmers, fisherman and hunters was an important part of the development of the MUMA management plans. Based on an action research approach, the local communities discussed the issues and concerns of each MUMA and they also offered solutions to tackle certain issues. The engagement meetings have revealed that the legally-regulated protective status of shorebirds has no negative impact on the practices of different resource user groups in the MUMA, such as rice farming and fishing. These practices are not harmful to shorebirds, and shorebirds have no negative influence on these activities.

A goal of these meetings and other community engagement efforts has been to make people aware that birds not only have an export value or a consumer value, but also have important aesthetic, ethical and moral values. Moreover, birds are a biological indicator of the health of the beautiful ecosystems on the coast of Suriname. Monitoring the presence of shorebirds in these habitats tells us about the condition of the sites: are the sites healthy, or are they disturbed in some way?

In addition to continuing to improve and implement the management plans for the MUMAs, an important part of our strategy going forward is partnering with international, national and local NGOs. The contributions of these organizations have a positive influence on the conservation of coastal birds, including shorebirds. We are not there yet, but every progress – even if it is small – must be seen as an achievement that brings us one step closer to reaching our conservation goals. That is why we welcome the help of multiple NGOs to continue supporting the conservation of shorebirds in Suriname. NGOs have helped lead trainings for students and local people interested in shorebird conservation – these workshops have covered various aspects related to the protection of shorebirds and the environment in which they occur.