To achieve this, the project will contribute to strengthening institutional governance capacity (specifically in Suriname) for effective forest monitoring and management and strengthen local community capacity development on forest resources, and enhance sustainable nature and forest-based livelihoods for communities.
As part of the EU-funded “Sustainable Forest Livelihood” Programme (SFL), implemented by AFD and WWF, a team composed of the EU delegation to Guyana, the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), and WWF visited Kwakwani on 17th April 2025.
FUNDING: €10 MILLIONDURATION: 2023-2027The project aims to support local authorities and communities in Guyana and Suriname in the governance of territories, the development of sustainable and equitable income-generating activities, as well as in the establishment of sustainable financial mechanisms.The SFL project will take an integrated and sustainable approach to landscape management and livelihood development, ensuring better conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
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The SFL project will take an integrated and sustainable approach to landscape management and livelihood development, ensuring better conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
The intervention will focus on:
TARGETS AND BENEFICIARIESPRIMARY TARGET GROUP—The initiative’s primary target group is rural women, men, and youth from indigenous, tribal, and local communities in regions 2, 9, and 10 in Guyana and District Para and the Upper Suriname Watershed (Boven-Suriname) in Suriname.
SECONDARY TARGET GROUP—The secondary target group includes state institutions, regulatory agencies, local government organs, service providers, civil society organisations, training institutions, private sector actors, and consumers. |
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The Amazon rainforest accounts for about 10% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity, 20% of the world's freshwater supply and 10% of the world's carbon reserves. It is also home to many indigenous peoples, with their languages and customs, over vast areas.
The Guiana Shield, targeted by the project, has much intact forest cover. The forest covers about 90% of the surface of Guyana and Suriname. However, the area is environmentally, socially and culturally challenged. It is under pressure from illegal logging and increasing extractive projects (especially gold mining). Timber harvesting is a primary source of carbon emissions, and forest roads, often over long distances in previously pristine areas, are used as entry points by hunters, poachers and gold miners.
2024 Highlights
January
Installation of the Guyana Steering Committee
The Guyana Steering Committee of the European Union (EU) funded Sustainable Forest Livelihoods (SFL) project has been officially established today, January 25, 2024. February
Installation of the Suriname Steering Committee
The Suriname Steering Committee of the European Union (EU) funded Sustainable Forest Livelihoods (SFL) project has been officially installed on February 19th 2024March
Krutu's with Saamaka communities
The SFL team went to the Boven-Suriname region to have krutus (meetings) with Saamaka communities and learn about their needs for further development. The SFL team informed the community members about the project and listened to their concerns about development constraints.April
Para East stakeholders engaged
The WWF-SFL Team met with village leaders of Para East, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders. The primary objective of this meeting was to establish common ground and determine a plan for the development of Para East.
June
Monitoring Mission in Guyana
The AFD conducted a monitoring mission, where meetings were held with the EU, Guyana Forestry Commission, the project consultants, and the WWF SFL project team to assess the overall status and discuss the work plans and approach for the project’s implementation phase.June
Monitoring Mission in Upper Suriname
The Monitoring Mission was conducted by representatives of WWF-Guianas, the Foundation for Forest Management and Production Control (SBB) and Tropenbos Suriname, Quentin Lajus of AFD. The goal was to gain a better understanding of this project area in order to concretize the work plan.
December
Supporting Nature-Based Tourism in Guyana
The stakeholder Information Session, which focused on nature-based tourism, brought together the major players and key stakeholders to discuss and strategize the future of nature-based tourism in Guyana.September
GFC Contra Signing
The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the World Wildlife Fund-Guianas today announced a landmark agreement with the signing of a GYD 118-million-dollar contract for a project, ‘Promoting Economically Viable and Sustainable Forestry Livelihoods in Regions 2 and 10’.
October
Second Steering Committee Meeting Suriname
On October 25 2024, the steering committee of the Sustainable Forest Livelihoods for Communities in Guyana and Suriname programme, funded by the European Union in partnership with AFD (Agence Française de Développement) and executed by WWF-Guianas and SBB, convened for its second meeting in Suriname. Committee members received updates and had the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.
Jerry R. A-Kum
Programme Coordinator
Send an email | Call: 597 422 357 ext. 121
Sara Henry
Assistant Programme Coordinator
Send an email
| Call: 592 223 7801 ext. 202
