World Wetlands Day 2007 at Bigi Pan in Nickerie

Mangroves, natural vegetation in the Coppename and Bigi Pan nature reserves.

Fisherman explains to Marie-Louise Felix how he processes fish for export and drying.

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.

Aerial photograph from the Coppename Monding MUMA (taken by Aiesha Williams, WWF Guianas).

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.

Margarita Astralaga with blue life jacket on teh Coppename river. Brian Drakenstein, head of NCD in front, and Marchall Lingard standing in front of the District Commissioner of Saramacca, Mrs. Gisaidoebe.

During the morning hundreds of school children cam to exhibition where CELOS, NCD and WWF Guianas had interactive and informational booths set up. The children played games and listened to the information about wetlands and nature conservation. Of course they also won prizes, such as stickers, pens, books, calendars, and lots more.

Aiesha Williams interacts with school children at the "know your forest" interactive mural.

Entrance of the Bigi Pan Nature Reserve.

A fish cookout was organized to promote the use of tilapia as a regular food dish.

White ibis in flight at Bigi Pan. Photograph by Jerrel Pinas, WWF Guianas.

In the afternoon, the team went to the Bigi Pan, a MUMA on the coast of Nickerie. This area provides the nesting ground for different types of migratory birds. The white and red ibis are commonly seen there.

However amidst this beautiful scenery, poachers rampage the reserve for the red ibis. This poaching is so severe that the species is soon threatened with extinction, if no immediate action is taken. WWF Guianas urges the people of Nickerie to at as protectors by not engaging anymore in these practices.

The event got good media attention and WWF Guianas was interviewed by a local TV station in Nickerie.

WWF Guianas acknowledges the wealth of the rich biological diversity of the Bigi Pan area and urges therefore the Nickerie people to support the protection of this nature reserve.