The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Suriname’s Ministry of Land Policy and Forest Management (GBB) have reaffirmed their commitment to sustain and advancement of their partnership. This commitment was formalized during an introductory visit by Mr. Berdi Berdiyev, Head of Office at UNDP Suriname, to Minister Stanley Soeropawiro of GBB. 

Berdiyev was accompanied by Ruben Martoredjo, Programme Analyst for Social Development and SDG Integration. Representing the ministry was Kaminie Tajib-Rakimoen, Acting Director of the Ministry. 

During the meeting, UNDP Suriname outlined the areas of collaboration which includes, among other: Forest Governance and Sustainable Management; Strengthening institutional capacity, monitoring systems, and policy frameworks to ensure the long-term sustainability of Suriname’s forests; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Advancing Suriname’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) through forest-based climate mitigation and adaptation measures; and the currently ongoing Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Programme – Phase 2 (ASL2) project.  

As the Implementing Agency, the ministry is leading the implementation of the ASL 2 project through the National Implementation Modality (NIM) approach. 

Suriname is facing increasing environmental challenges, including deforestation and land degradation driven by mining, expanding forestry operations, and—though to a lesser extent—urban development, agriculture, and infrastructure expansion. These pressures highlight the urgent need for integrated landscape management strategies that protect biodiversity, carbon stocks, and natural resources. 

The ASL 2 Child Project addresses these challenges by promoting sustainable forestry practices, enhancing the management of protected areas (PAs), and supporting alternative livelihoods such as agroforestry, nature tourism, and non-timber forest products (NTFPs). It also aims to improve land use planning and monitoring systems. 

The project is structured around four strategic components: Improved management of protected landscapes, Strengthened, gender-inclusive, participatory management of productive landscapes, Development of policies and incentives for protected and productive landscapes, and Knowledge management, learning, and monitoring & evaluation.

Implementation is focused on two key regions within the Surinamese Amazon biome: the Saamaka-Matawai and Coeroeni-Paroe landscapes. The program began in 2022 and is scheduled to conclude in 2027. This program is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 

 This renewed commitment signifies not only a strong partnership between UNDP and the Ministry of Land Policy and Forest Management, aimed at balancing conservation goals with sustainable economic development in Suriname, but also provide opportunity for the much needed institutional and capacity strengthening of the ministry.