“Promoting Integrated and Participatory Ocean Governance in Guyana and Suriname: the Eastern Gate to the Caribbean” commenced in early 2017 and was officially launched in July 2017. This four-year project is funded by the EU and covers the coastal and marine areas of Suriname and Guyana. The project is implemented through a partnership between WWF Guianas, Green Heritage Fund Suriname (GHFS), Guyana’s Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and the Nature Conservation Division (NCD) of the Suriname Forest Service (‘s Lands Bosbeheer). The project aims to significantly enhance the governance and protection of marine and coastal resources of Guyana and Suriname through collaborative processes with all ocean stakeholders, improved knowledge of the coastal and marine environment, enhanced capacity of key stakeholders and informed marine spatial management. It will contribute to substantial progress towards achieving Aichi targets 4, 6, 10, 11 and 14 under the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD).

This project will use a participatory approach to develop comprehensive and visually appealing spatial data that will fill critical information gaps, and facilitate informed decision-making regarding marine management and protection. This participatory approach to marine decision-making will increase the knowledge of the marine environment and related human uses of the marine environment amongst all participating stakeholders by allowing information to be available to everyone. An Equivalence-Gap Analysis for indigenous peoples (IP) and gender will ensure equity and participation of these marginalized groups, and that their needs are explicitly addressed in the decision-making process of this project. The participatory approach in its entirety builds stakeholder capacity and highlights the important role stakeholders can and should play in marine governance. Increased marine protection and strengthened governance through participatory spatial planning, targeted capacity building, and compelling data, will demonstrate that MSP can produce “win-win” outcomes that conserve biodiversity and enhance food security, protect livelihoods and support socio-economic development compatible with ocean health.

Brochure: Promoting integrated ocean and participatory governance in Guyana and Suriname.

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The European Union is an economic and political union between 28 European countries that together cover much of the European continent. The Delegation of the European Union in Guyana (part of the European External Action Service (EEAS)) represents the European Union in 8 countries and territories in the region. These include Guyana and Suriname as well as six Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) belonging to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, namely Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten. This Delegation represents the European Union in all matters of its competence.

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The Green Heritage Fund Suriname was established in October 2005 and is a charitable nonprofit. The Foundation was established due to its belief that the image of Lucia (Bradypus tridactylus) should not be used commercially, and with the idea that a non-profit charity could reinvest all earnings in programs that would help improve the fate of wildlife. Thus, the Foundation’s first program was born, the Xenarthra Program. The second and perhaps more well known initiative of the Foundation is the Dolphin Program. In 2005 a group of friends began to make regular trips in the Suriname River Estuary stopping at the beach of Braamspunt. Over time these outings developed into a regular research and monitoring activity. They also helped to encourage dolphin tourism which yields benefits for the local community.

Read more: Green Heritage Fund Suriname

WWF is the leading organization in wildlife conservation and endangered species. WWFs mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth. WWFs strategy puts people at the center and organizes its work around six key areas: forests, marine, freshwater, wildlife, food and climate. WWF Guianas, established in 1999, is one of the most recognized and influential environmental NGO’s in the Guianas. Its focus has expanded from marine turtle conservation to large forest conservation programs to an integrated approach that balances conservation and human well-being.

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The Nature Conservation Division (NCD), part of the State Forest Management Service, is responsible for the management of Wildlife and Protected Areas nationwide. The NCD is responsible for the control and supervision in respect of Wildlife and Protected Areas. In addition, NCD provides information and education on the importance of the forests and biodiversity with a special focus on school children. Priorities for NCD are research into wildlife populations as well as captive breeding, in addition to the installation of the Nature Protection Commission and the revision of the Game Act and Nature Protection Act. These will all support Wildlife Management.

 

 

 

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