On Friday, December 5th, two representatives of the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Guyana, Suriname and Caricom, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) Head of Division; Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean, respectfully H.E. Luca Pierantoni and Ms. Marianne Van Steen, visited the Bigi Pan Multiple Use Management Area (MUMA). The Bigi Pan MUMA is in the Nickerie and Coronie districts, was established in 1987 and has been internationally recognized in Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site since 1989, and Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). The site has also earned a World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) listing and is a Ramsar candidate. This field visit was carried out within the scope of the Mangrove+ Project.

The Mangrove+ Project is the brand name of the Protection, Restoration and Sustainable Use of the Mangrove Forest (PRSUMF) project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Government of Suriname. The project aims to protect and restore vital mangrove ecosystems, which are crucial for coastal protection, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of local communities.

During the field visit, both representatives, accompanied by the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Suriname, Mr. Berdi Berdiyev, and the Mangrove + Project PMU, engaged with local stakeholders, namely, a nature-based tourism lodge holder, local Fishers’ Cooperation Nickerie members, and a local mangrove restoration champion as well as the Head of the Forestry Service - Nature Conservation Division Western Region (LBB-NB). The delegation also visited the Bigi Pan MUMA Checkpoint, which was established with EU funding, in close collaboration with the UNDP as implementing partner and the Surinamese Government, under the GCCA+ project. 

During this engagement, the local mangrove restoration champion, Ms. Joyce Toelsie, highlighted the challenges she faced during the implementation of the restoration activities and shared her thoughts on how these could be addressed. The chair of the Fishers Cooperation in Nickerie, namely Mr. Abas Noredjo and Cooperation member Mr. Eldy Kartosentiko, talked about the importance of the mangroves for their livelihood, as these are nurseries for this fish rich MUMA. At the Nature Conservation Division field station within the Bigi Pan MUMA, the Head of LBB-NB Mr. Soerindo Amatroesjiat, highlighted how past EU funded projects (GCCA+ phase 1 & 2) have contributed to the protection of this MUMA and its management, while showing enthusiasm for initiatives which are to be implemented under the Mangrove + project. 

In the Bigi Pan MUMA, the delegation traveled through mangrove areas, natural coastal protectors and an important biodiversity hotspot in the Western Hemisphere, home to more than 122 bird species. While sailing, the delegation admired the scarlet ibis, its bright red feathers contrasting with the green of the mangroves and saw flamingos in the distance.

This field visit, which reflects a shared commitment to protect Suriname’s mangroves while strengthening the co-management of its mangrove ecosystems, was closed with the speech of a nature-based tourism lodge holder, Ms. Stephanie Kramawitana, who emphasized that “climate change is not a distant threat, but a daily reality”, and highlighted the importance of collaboration by expressing “when knowledge, community, and entrepreneurship come together; strength emerges.”