On the 16th and 17th of April, WWF-Guianas, in a strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Land Policy and Forest Management (GBB) and the Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environment (ROM), hosted a crucial National Workshop aimed at revising the Suriname Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan (STRAP).
This initiative is a vital part of the broader regional project entitled “Developing a Sea Turtle Recovery Plan for the Dutch Caribbean” (STRAP), which is also actively being carried out in Suriname. The focus for Suriname is to review the Suriname Sea Turtle Recovery Plan (STRAP) from 1993 and the development of a manual of the STRAP to support the long-term, civil society-driven conservation and recovery of Suriname’s sea turtle populations.
This workshop served as a platform, bringing together approximately 50 participants representing 21 organizations, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), various government agencies, local community members, private sector stakeholders, and academic institutions. The primary goal of this workshop was to start developing the STRAP manual for Suriname, by reviewing the actions identified in the 1993 STRAP and the current status, threats and needs of each sea turtle species, to identify and agree priority actions for the next 1-10 years and to identify key organisations who will be tasked with implementation and governance.
Attendees of the event benefited from insightful presentations delivered by prominent experts in the field. Leading the session was Ms. Soraya Wijntuin, the Oceans Coordinator for WWF-Guianas, who initiated proceedings with a comprehensive overview of the STRAP project. She highlighted its vital importance in addressing regional and national environmental challenges and its role in safeguarding marine biodiversity. Ms. Wijntuin emphasized the project's strategies to protect the four sea turtle species on our land and in our waters and their importance in the Wider Caribbean region.
Mr. Rakesh Debisarun, Chief of Education and Information at the Nature Conservation Division of the Ministry of Land Policy and Forest Management (GBB, offered a comprehensive discussion on the division’s strategy for sea turtle conservation and management within Suriname. He highlighted the critical relationship between education, community involvement, and successful conservation efforts. Ms. Prija Gangaram Panday, Environmental Policy Officer at the Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environment, elaborated on the Ministry’s supportive role in advancing the STRAP project, the linkages with the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) emphasizing collaboration across sectors.
Furthermore, WWF consultants Ms. Farah Mukhida and Ms. Louise Soanes provided a detailed summary of the key actions outlined in the 1993 STRAP and the regional initiatives for the Leatherback Turtle as part of the Regional Action Plan (RAP) for the Northwest Atlantic Leatherback Turtle in the Wider Caribbean region.
The workshop was concluded by Ms. Soraya Wijntuin, the Oceans Coordinator for WWF-Guianas, with an overview of the countries in our region that are currently also in the process of updating/revising their STRAP and examples of their STRAP governance structures.
This first workshop represents a significant step forward in executing the Regional Action Plan (RAP) for the Northwest Atlantic Leatherback Turtle across the Caribbean, with Suriname as the first country to officially endorse the RAP in June 2023, by the Ministry of Land Policy and Forest Management (GBB).
A priority action of the RAP is to revise the Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan (STRAP) for all sea turtle species within the region. Through the collaborative efforts of WWF-Guianas and Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB), funding has been successfully secured to develop a robust STRAP for the Dutch Caribbean and a detailed STRAP manual specifically tailored for Suriname. This collaborative endeavour aims to empower local communities and ensure the long-term survival of these marine creatures.
In the upcoming period, the STRAP manual for Suriname will be developed based on the input provided by the stakeholders during this workshop. After engagements with the national stakeholders and with regional partners, a validation workshop of the STRAP manual will be organized tentatively for November 2025.
This initiative is a vital part of the broader regional project entitled “Developing a Sea Turtle Recovery Plan for the Dutch Caribbean” (STRAP), which is also actively being carried out in Suriname. The focus for Suriname is to review the Suriname Sea Turtle Recovery Plan (STRAP) from 1993 and the development of a manual of the STRAP to support the long-term, civil society-driven conservation and recovery of Suriname’s sea turtle populations.
This workshop served as a platform, bringing together approximately 50 participants representing 21 organizations, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), various government agencies, local community members, private sector stakeholders, and academic institutions. The primary goal of this workshop was to start developing the STRAP manual for Suriname, by reviewing the actions identified in the 1993 STRAP and the current status, threats and needs of each sea turtle species, to identify and agree priority actions for the next 1-10 years and to identify key organisations who will be tasked with implementation and governance.
Attendees of the event benefited from insightful presentations delivered by prominent experts in the field. Leading the session was Ms. Soraya Wijntuin, the Oceans Coordinator for WWF-Guianas, who initiated proceedings with a comprehensive overview of the STRAP project. She highlighted its vital importance in addressing regional and national environmental challenges and its role in safeguarding marine biodiversity. Ms. Wijntuin emphasized the project's strategies to protect the four sea turtle species on our land and in our waters and their importance in the Wider Caribbean region.
Mr. Rakesh Debisarun, Chief of Education and Information at the Nature Conservation Division of the Ministry of Land Policy and Forest Management (GBB, offered a comprehensive discussion on the division’s strategy for sea turtle conservation and management within Suriname. He highlighted the critical relationship between education, community involvement, and successful conservation efforts. Ms. Prija Gangaram Panday, Environmental Policy Officer at the Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environment, elaborated on the Ministry’s supportive role in advancing the STRAP project, the linkages with the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) emphasizing collaboration across sectors.
Furthermore, WWF consultants Ms. Farah Mukhida and Ms. Louise Soanes provided a detailed summary of the key actions outlined in the 1993 STRAP and the regional initiatives for the Leatherback Turtle as part of the Regional Action Plan (RAP) for the Northwest Atlantic Leatherback Turtle in the Wider Caribbean region.
The workshop was concluded by Ms. Soraya Wijntuin, the Oceans Coordinator for WWF-Guianas, with an overview of the countries in our region that are currently also in the process of updating/revising their STRAP and examples of their STRAP governance structures.
This first workshop represents a significant step forward in executing the Regional Action Plan (RAP) for the Northwest Atlantic Leatherback Turtle across the Caribbean, with Suriname as the first country to officially endorse the RAP in June 2023, by the Ministry of Land Policy and Forest Management (GBB).
A priority action of the RAP is to revise the Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan (STRAP) for all sea turtle species within the region. Through the collaborative efforts of WWF-Guianas and Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB), funding has been successfully secured to develop a robust STRAP for the Dutch Caribbean and a detailed STRAP manual specifically tailored for Suriname. This collaborative endeavour aims to empower local communities and ensure the long-term survival of these marine creatures.
In the upcoming period, the STRAP manual for Suriname will be developed based on the input provided by the stakeholders during this workshop. After engagements with the national stakeholders and with regional partners, a validation workshop of the STRAP manual will be organized tentatively for November 2025.
