As a country with a high forest cover (+ 90%) and less than 0.1% annual deforestation, Suriname faces the challenge to keep this status and at the same time develop its economy.  Drivers of deforestation and forest degradation include mining, agriculture and infrastructural works, such as roads and possibly a hydro electric dam.  In the run-up to the UNFCCC Conference of Parties in Copenhagen, December 2009, the forest has gained prominence on the political agenda in Suriname.  TBI Suriname supports the Government of Suriname to create a sound national forest programme that increases the benefits of intact forests to the nation.  Institutes still have to be strengthened and their capacities enhanced so that the country can participate in compensation mechanisms for carbon sequestration.

The extent of the forest cover and changes of carbon stocks over time are essential data needed by the Government of Suriname to manage its forest resources.  At present forest cover monitoring needs upgrading and statistical data needs to be improved. In July 2009 TBI Suriname started collaboration with the Centre for Agricultural Research in Suriname (CELOS), the Foundation for Forest Management and Production Control (SBB) and Alterra-WUR on a project ‘Baseline inventory of above ground carbon stocks in different forest types’.  Existing infrastructure of CELOS and SBB was used as a point of departure for forest monitoring and carbon stock assessment, using already available data and additional gathered data from tree measurements.  Some forest dynamics sample plots managed by CELOS provide these additional tree measurement data.

A key development was the UNFF Country-Led Initiative on Forest Financing, which was organized by the Governments of Suriname, the Netherlands and the United States of America in Paramaribo in September 2008. TBI Suriname prepared a Suriname Case Study on financing mechanisms for sustainable forest management which proved to be an important document to help formulate Suriname’s position with regard to REDD.

In 2009, the Ministry of Physical Planning, Land and Forest Management (RGB) submitted proposals to the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) outlining a REDD+ preparation strategy to carry out sustainable development with involvement of the forest industry, traditional forest dwellers and other stakeholders.  It also mentions a set of instruments such as a monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system, capacity building and institutional strengthening, and stakeholder’s consultation and outreach.  An important, overarching framework is the Suriname Green Vision which was launched in October 2009 by the Government and places special emphasis on carbon wise and environmentally friendly development, including sustainable forest management and forest conservation.  In this environment the TBI Suriname programme will touch upon several issues such as, the support of the creation of a Forest and Nature Authority, the support of national forest policy including Forest Financing Mechanisms, and the identification of opportunities to create sources of income from the forest.