BIODIVERSITY – a CROSS-CUTTING ISSUE in NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

1. BIODIVERSITY – a CROSS-CUTTING ISSUE in NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Dr. Paul E. Ouboter National Zoological Collection/Environmental Research Center & Faculty of Technology

3. Contents • Introduction to Biodiversity • Sustainable Management of Natural Resources – The role of Biodiversity research • Research projects by NZCS/CMO • Importance of biodiversity research in Suriname • Present and future research

4. Introduction to Biodiversity

5. What is Biodiversity ? CBD: Biological Diversity means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

6. Why focus on Biological Diversity? • World in a species extinction wave • Every day an estimated 70-400 species go extinct worldwide – this is the third documented wave of extinctions

7. First wave in Perm (250 mil), caused by collision of continents and drying of continental seas

8. Second wave at end of Cretaceous (65 mil), caused by collision of meteorite with the earth in the Gulf of Mexico

9. Third wave of extinctions occurring now, caused by man Started end of Pleistocene: Extinction of Megafauna

10. Recent examples of extinctions:

11. Third wave of extinctions caused by man So, only man can solve the crisis !!

12. History • 1987 Brundtland Report “Our Common Future” • Sustainable Development was defined. Brundtland Report led to: • 1988 Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on Biological Diversity • 1989 Ad Hoc Working Group of Technical and Legal Experts • 1992 Earth Summit Rio de Janeiro • UN Convention on Biological Diversity • UN Convention on Climate Change • UN Convention to Combat Desertification

13. Why do we need biodiversity? • Food • Medicine • Building materials • Clothing • Cosmetics • Fossil fuels • Recreation • Religion • Esthetics • Ecosystem functioning • Ecosystem functioning • Oxygen • Climate stabilization • Ecosystem stabilization • Erosion protection • Water supply • Breakdown dead organic matter • Pollination

14. Biodiversity of Suriname – How was it shaped? • Evolution • Continental drift • Connection between South and North America • Glacial periods • Geography: mountains and rivers • Guyana Current • El Niño • Men • Alteration of habitats • Extirpation of species • Introduction of species

15. Biodiversity of Suriname - Richness

16. Organizations related to Biodiversity in Suriname • Ministry ATM – CBD, AIS • NIMOS – E(S)IA’s • Ministry ROGB – Nature Preservation Law, Game Law, Forest Law, CITES, carbon credits • SBB • STINASU • Ministry LVV – Agricultural biodiversity, Pesticides, Fisheries • Ministry Public Health – Vectors, diseases • Ministry TCT – (Eco)-tourism • Ministry HI – Wildlife trade, pesticide imports

17. Ministry Education – Education in Biodiversity • IOL • AdeKUS • FTeW • IGSR • Nat. Herbarium • NZCS/CMO • CELOS • Ministry RO – projects/development interior • All other Ministries • WWF • CI • SCF • ACT • Tropenbos

18. MScprogramme in Sustainable Management of Natural Resources The role of Biodiversity research

19. What is SUSTAINABLE ? Bruntland: “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Wikipedia: “the potential for long-term maintenance of wellbeing, which in turn depends on the wellbeing of the natural world and the responsible use of natural resources”.

20. How to measure sustainable ? • Environmental indicators • Biodiversity indicators • Economic indicators • Social indicators A development project is sustainable when it is economically feasible, does not impact the environment and biodiversity “significantly” , takes account of all stakeholders and provides benefits for an extended period of time

21. Biodiversity is: • Natural resource • Indicator for measurement of sustainability

22. Streams SMNR • Land and water management • Sustainable energy • Mineral resources • Sustainable agriculture • Sustainable forestry • Biodiversity • Natural products

23. Biodiversity also an issue in: • Public health • Economy • Sociology • Archaeology • Climate change

24. Land and Water Management • Catchment area conservation • Zoning, incl nature conservation • Water quality/Aquatic ecology • Impact of management activities on Biodiversity Example: Classification of rivers (river sections)

25. Sustainable Energy • Impact of “exploitation” activities on Biodiversity • Hydro-power Example: Brokopondo Lake

26. Mineral Resources • Impact of “exploitation” activities on Biodiversity • Destruction of unique habitats • Threat to endemic or rare species Biodiversity often used as indicators by mining companies and governmental agencies Example: Use of fish as indicators for mining pollution

27. Sustainable Agriculture • Impact of “exploitation” activities on Biodiversity • Pesticides? • Alternative pest management, use of natural enemies • Pest identification • Agricultural Biodiversity

28. Sustainable Forestry • Impact of “exploitation” activities on Biodiversity • Resource itself is Biodiversity Example: Celos Management System at Kabo

29. Biodiversity • Sustainable use of Biodiversity (resource) • Conservation of Biodiversity • Threats to Biodiversity • Use as indicator • Identification Examples: • Sustainable exploitation of spectacled caiman • Impact of eco-tourism on Biodiversity • Identification of areas with high priority for protection

30. Natural Products • Resource itself is Biodiversity • Identification of natural products • Sustainable harvest

31. Research projects by NZCS/CMO

32. 1. Classification of rivers (river sections) 1993 Freshwater Ecosystems of Suriname: abiotic factors

33. 1993-present: biotic factors

35. 2. Brokopondo Lake After closing of dam in 1964: • Drowning of forest and many animals Depletion of oxygen Fish kill in downstream river Decomposition of vegetation Release of nutrients Bloom of water hyacinth

37. 3. Use of fish as indicators for water quality Mining causes high turbidity in streams

38. Impacts of high turbidity Visual hunters disappear Low visibility High turbidity Bottom structures covered Reproduction decreased

41. 4. Celos Management System at Kabo • Low impact logging • Improvement of survival of seedlings and young trees of economic valuable timber species • Survival enhancement realized through poisoning of neighboring trees • 20 year cycle

43. 5. Sustainable exploitation of spectacled caiman

47. Conditions for sustainable caiman harvest • Only harvesting of specimens >150cm (mainly males) • Only harvesting downstream of Zeekoe Creek • No harvesting in tributaries, total protection of tributaries • Annual monitoring program to observe population trend

48. 6. Impact of eco-tourism on Biodiversity • Impact of eco-tourism on amphibians at Brownsberg & Raleighvallen • 4 trails/roads with impact of tourists • 4 trails/roads without impact of tourists • Amphibians observed and recorded during early morning survey and night survey

49. Rainy season Simpson’s Species Diversity Index Dry season

50. 7. Identification of areas with high priority for protection • What do we know? • Species numbers • Endemism • Rare and threatened species • Ecosystem diversity • Threats