ABOUT THE
SUSTAINABLE
FOREST
LIVELIHOODS
 

SFL HOME
© SFL

The 'Sustainable Forest Livelihoods (SFL) for Communities in Guyana and Suriname' programme has the objective of maintaining healthy forests and natural resources in these ecologically rich countries.


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.

 

FUNDING: €10 MILLION

DURATION: 2023-2027

The 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.
 

APPROACH

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:

  1. Reinforced institutional governance for effective forest monitoring and management at the national level in Suriname 
     
  2. Strengthened sustainable local community governance in Guyana and Suriname 
     
  3. Enhanced sustainable nature- and forest-based livelihood opportunities for communities in Guyana and Suriname 

TARGETS AND BENEFICIARIES

PRIMARY 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.
 

PROJECT AREAS

© Kemptorne Daly / WWF-Guianas


PROJECT FUNDING

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.
 


 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION 
Agence Française de Développement (AFD) implements France’s policy on international development and solidarity. Through its financing of NGOs and the public sector, as well as its research and publications, AFD supports and accelerates transitions towards a fairer, more resilient world. It also provides training in sustainable development (at AFD Campus) and other awareness-raising activities in France.


PROJECT EXECUTION
WWF is an independent conservation organization active in nearly 100 countries. Working with many others – from individuals and communities to business and government – WWF urgently seeks to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife, and make the way we produce and consume sustainable. The mission of WWF-Guianas is to conserve the natural heritage of Suriname and Guyana for the human well-being of current and future generations.

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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.

SFL TEAM