Saamaka voices in land use decisions

Abstract

This document is the result of a participatory research carried out, between 2013 and 2016, by Tropenbos Suriname and the Saamaka communities living in the Upper Suriname River region. It is embedded in a joint project with the Association of Saamaka Authorities (VSG) and WWF. The project objective was twofold: 1) to provide a spatial explicit understanding on the ecosystem services that are important for the Saamaka communities as well as assess their current state in their provision and threats, and 2) to understand how the local knowledge of Saamaka communities can be used to support a process of inclusive policy making that recognizes the needs and priorities of Saamaka communities regarding ecosystem service use.