The lush natural and cultural diversity in the Guianas serves people with a wealth of food sources. It is a key value for human well-being and as such a needed buffer to assure food security. The fertile soils in the coastal zone produce crops and cattle grassland for national and international markets (rice, bananas, sugarcane, vegetables), while the ocean nurtures vast amounts of fish stocks. Local communities in rural areas hunt and fish in swamps, rivers, forests and savannas to sustain their families’ food security and generate some income.
With increasing demands on the Guianas` resources and the impact of climate change, food security becomes at risk. Continued unsustainable hunting (including poaching) and fishing practices for food and trade lead to declining wildlife populations, which disturb the local food chain. Overfishing has been a serious concern of governments, which is why they try to keep the number of fishers constant to ensure sufficient fish stock for both sea and inland fishing sectors.
With increasing demands on the Guianas` resources and the impact of climate change, food security becomes at risk. Continued unsustainable hunting (including poaching) and fishing practices for food and trade lead to declining wildlife populations, which disturb the local food chain. Overfishing has been a serious concern of governments, which is why they try to keep the number of fishers constant to ensure sufficient fish stock for both sea and inland fishing sectors.
