In a groundbreaking move, Suriname’s government has formally pledged to permanently protect 90% of its tropical forests. This ambitious commitment is being hailed by conservationists as one of the most significant efforts for climate and biodiversity ever made by an Amazonian nation.
The announcement was delivered during Climate Week in New York City by Foreign Minister Melvin W.J. Bouva, on behalf of President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, who recently took office.
Suriname already boasts the highest percentage of forest cover globally, with approximately 93% of its land enveloped in pristine tropical rainforest. The majority of this remains primary forest, untouched by industrial logging, agriculture, or mining. Scientists highlight Suriname as one of only three countries worldwide that effectively absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits, acting as a crucial ‘carbon sink’ and a vital defense against global warming.
President Geerlings-Simons emphasized the nation’s profound responsibility: “We understand and accept the immense responsibility of stewarding over 15 million hectares of tropical rainforest in a world that is seeing her forests fall day in and day out.”
This pledge dramatically surpasses the internationally recognized ’30×30′ global target—a United Nations-backed initiative aiming for countries to protect 30% of their land and oceans by 2030. The timing is particularly poignant, coming just weeks before COP30, the upcoming U.N. climate summit set to be hosted in Belem, Brazil, deep within the Amazon rainforest.
As part of this initiative, Suriname’s government plans to update its conservation laws by year-end, introducing more robust protections for its forests. This new legislative framework also seeks to formally recognize the ancestral lands of Indigenous and Maroon peoples—descendants of enslaved Africans who sought refuge and built communities within the rainforest. Furthermore, the plan aims to foster sustainable economic opportunities through ecotourism and participation in the burgeoning carbon credit market.
To support these efforts, a consortium of environmental donors has committed $20 million, which will help finance the conservation initiatives and create local jobs linked to forest protection.
Conservation experts are celebrating this as an unparalleled achievement for the Amazon, a region that has faced increasing deforestation despite international calls for its reversal.
Russell Mittermeier, chief conservation officer at Re:wild, a global conservation nonprofit, commented, “This sets a new standard for the Amazonian region as a whole, which has suffered from serious deforestation in recent decades.”
Suriname’s vibrant rainforests are home to an incredible array of wildlife, including jaguars, giant river otters, tapirs, over 700 bird species, and the striking blue poison dart frog. Advocates stress that preserving these vital ecosystems is essential not only for local communities but also for maintaining global climate stability.
However, Hugo Jabini, a lawyer from Suriname’s Saamaka Maroon community and a 2009 Goldman Environmental Prize winner, cautioned that the pledge’s true impact hinges on the government addressing long-standing Indigenous and tribal land rights. “Suriname is the only country in the Western Hemisphere where Indigenous and tribal land rights are not legally recognized,” he told The Associated Press. “Without recognition, the very people who depend on the forest — and who are best placed to protect it — cannot truly safeguard it.”
Jabini also warned that illegal mining, logging, and road construction continue to threaten these communities, despite international court rulings against such concessions. He emphasized that successfully protecting 90% of the forest will necessitate sustained international support to develop viable, sustainable alternatives to resource extraction.
Sirito Yana Aloema, president of the Organization of Indigenous Peoples in Suriname, echoed these concerns, stressing that the pledge would be meaningless without robust enforcement. He pointed to weak infrastructure, corruption, and the lucrative allure of illegal mining as major undermining factors. Aloema underscored that Indigenous communities aspire to be recognized as the rightful and legal guardians of the forest. “To protect our forests, we need to be in the forest,” he asserted. “The best people to do this are the Indigenous people and the Maroon people.”