New data reveals illegal logging is devastating Suriname’s forests

28 June, 2024 - A new study released today shows the extent of damage caused by illegal mining and logging concessions in Suriname. Researchers used cutting-edge geospatial technology to uncover a staggering loss of biodiversity on the lands of the Saamaka people, a tribal group consisting of over 25,000 individuals living and taking care of 1.4 million Ha of pristine forest in the Amazon.

The data reveals that the government has illegally granted 32% of Saamaka territory – amounting to 447,000 of 1.5 million Ha – in logging and mining concessions, causing over 60,000 Ha of damaged or degraded forest; roughly the size of Singapore. An additional 100,000 Ha surrounding their ancestral territory and directly affecting Saamaka livelihoods, have been damaged or completely deforested. The Saamaka people survive off of hunting, fishing, small-scale agriculture and the sustainable harvesting of timber and non-timber forest products.

Suriname is often referred to as the greenest country in the world, an ironic contrast given its failure to uphold and respect the rights of its forest guardians. In 2007 the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) ruled in the Saamaka’s favour, mandating the government stop logging and mining concessions in the area, demarcate their territory, and legally recognise their collective ownership rights over the land. 14 years later, the Government of Suriname has not fully complied with the ruling. On the contrary, the Saamaka’s human rights continue to be violated, and logging and mining industries are destroying their forest at alarming rates. Saamaka leaders hope that this new research, coming from Landmark – a global Geographic Information System – will help turn the tide.

“Landmark is providing critical data on the status of Indigenous Peoples and community lands. This is the first time in a decades-long battle for recognition of their rights that the Saamaka Peoples have evidence to bring to their government to show how these activities are encroaching on their land,” says Jeremy Bourgoin, co-author and researcher with CIRAD and the International Land Coalition.

One of the leading voices defending the forest, Hugo Jabini, son of a female village leader and grandson of the former leader of Tutubuka village, forewarns catastrophic consequences for both the environment and his people if the government continues to grant concessions on Saamaka territory. “When you see people outside your community come in and start destroying the forest and polluting your water, that is a serious threat,” says Hugo. “With these destructive activities, they chase all the animals away. We depend on these animals for hunting and on the creek for fishing. Our agricultural system is also destroyed by their heavy machinery. All of this is severely impacting our food security”, he adds.

Landmark data reveals that a striking 77% of all negative impacts to the Saamaka land have occurred since the IACHR’s 2007 ruling. Most recently, a 2022 logging concession to Palmera N.V, a multinational logging company registered in Singapore, opened a new road in the forest despite the community’s opposition, enabling access to hundreds of hectares of formerly pristine tropical rainforest. So far, the road is directly responsible for the deforestation of 268 Ha of Saamaka land. Currently, the Saamaka have three pending cases, two national and another with the IACHR.

In a bid to save the future of their People and land, hundreds of Saamaka are planning a peaceful protest on June 28th and will deliver a petition on July 3rd, supported by many international NGOs, to the government of Suriname demanding they comply with the IACHR ruling and stop the damage in their territory.

“It is amazing to see how with data, evidence and the support of international organizations, the Saamaka people are building such a powerful movement,” says report co-author Sara Ramirez Gomez. “When the construction of Palmera road started, I saw how they felt powerless against that giant. Today, they’ve gained confidence, and feel their voices can be heard. This is the first time ever the Saamaka will protest.It’s a historical moment for them.”

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The International Land Coalition is a global network of over 200 organisations around the globe working together to put people at the centre of land governance, responding to the needs and protecting the rights of women, men and communities who live on and from the land. For more information, visit: www.landcoatition.org