A stop in the Coronie district, the bee keeper, Mr Khodabaks, gave an overview of his activities. After lunch the team went to Nickerie where the activities in light of WWD 2007 would take place.
On 2 February the activities for the day started with the formal opening of the WWD 2007 Exhibition in Solom, Longmay. The theme for this year's WWD was "Fish for Tomorrow".
The speeches were held by the Chairman of Solom, Mr. Karijokromo, Minu Parahu of CELOS, Margarita Astralaga, Jerrel Pinas of WWF Guianas and the District Commissioner of Nickerie Mr. Shankar. All speakers addressed various aspects of wetland conservation and the involvement of partners and citizens in the protection thereof.
WWF Guianas together with its partners Nature Conservation Division (Natuurbeheer) and Center for Agricultural Research in Suriname (CELOS) celebrated World Wetlands Day 2007 in Suriname. The visit was graced by the presence of Mrs. Margarita Astralaga, Regional Coordinator for North, Mid and South America for Ramsar. This was the first time she visited Suriname after NCD requested her to come for many years.
Margarita arrived late afternoon on 30 January. The following day after courtesy calls to the Director of the Ministry of Physical Planning Land and Forest Management, which has the administrative responsibility over protected areas, she held a lecture at the ADEK University of Suriname and visited the STINASU nature trail.The following day the team went to the only RAMSAR site in Suriname the North Coppename Monding Nature Reserve. This reserve is 12.000ha large and was established in 1966, with an IUCN category IV listing. This coastal reserve is home to many migratory bird species, thus a haven for bird watchers.
In Suriname this is a special nature reserve known as a Multiple Use Management Area (MUMA) in which commercial activities including fishing is allowed. Therefore many small to medium size fishing boats are seen daily on the Coppename River.
