"The sustainable management of our natural resources and the protection of flora and fauna are key to the work of WWF Guianas. Education and awareness are important tools to share knowledge and information. And knowledge is indispensable for the adequate management of our natural resources", said Haidy Malone WWF Guianas Forestry Assistant at the launching of the awareness material made by the Suriname Forest Service under a WWF Guianas project.
"The posters produced give people in forest communities practical guidelines how to improve the management of their concession. Easy steps on how to plan before selecting and cutting trees, how to divide the work for efficiency and the collaboration with the Forest Service are explained in simple terminology. The main message on the poster is that a forest should and can be utilized for many years, allowing it to regenerate."Under this project radio talk shows on sustainable forest management were produced as well. These programs are aired on the community radio stations and caused many to respond to them."
As Haidy continued she stated that it is important to have or create sound legislation, or to adapt the current one as needed. "If both of these aspects lack, the forest and the people dependant on it are vulnerable to the negative impacts of legal and illegal forest operations. Then in the end, no one will benefit. But if we apply these simple principles, we will have laid the foundation for a long-term commitment and use of our forests".
SBB: Suriname Forest Control Foundation (Stichting Bosbeheer en Bostoezicht)
