By Monique Pool | Director
What started with the care of one orphan baby sloth. Has developed into a 15-year-old adolescent foundation on the way to adulthood. On 24 October 2005, the Green Heritage Fund Suriname was established to create a basis for fund formationon behalf of sloths who get in trouble. During the same period, it was with the encouragement of Nicole Duplaix, giant otter researcher, and George Middendorf, ecologist and herpetologist, that systematic datacollection was started by the volunteers of the foundation of the dolphins that were spotted during theboat trips to Braampunt n the Suriname river.
In recent years, the foundation has become increasingly independent and not only offers shelter to sloths, anteaters and armadillos (and the occasional porcupine), in 2018 the foundation even opened a professional shelter in the forest for these animals. The veterinarians who have been providing the care their knowledge was also strengthened about these wild animals in recent years through workshops provided by foreign experts. More than 1000 animals have been rescued, cared for and released in a safe environment. Since 2016, a partnership has been established with Welttierschutzgesellschaft e.v., an animal welfare foundation from Germany.. In 2012, the foundation gained international acclaim for its rescue effort in a forest fragment in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, home to more than 150 three-toed sloths.
Parallel to the development of the sloth program, the foundation's dolphin program developed. From a focus on the dolphins in the Suriname River, that focus shifted to their habitat and the ocean. In the meantime, the foundation has earned laurels when it comes to the systematic collection of data about the sea of Suriname and converting them into awareness-raising materials and providing lessons about the sea of Suriname in schools and other public places. The foundation believes that human activities, including fishing, shipping or exploitation of the resources of the marine subsurface, are developing rapidly. Increased knowledge of our marine area therefore seems fundamental to better determine the effects of these activities. The conservation of species and habitats thus requires better integration and management of human activities in Suriname's marine landscape. Continuing our efforts to fill the gap in knowledge about marine ecosystems as well as about human activities can reconcile environmental protection and economic development.
In recent years, the foundation's education and research program has also been further developed and a number of scientific publications have appeared in peer-reviewed journals. Interns and many volunteers have contributed to the creation of materials and the training of individuals in a variety of disciplines, from collecting scientific data to conducting short scientific studies within the context of their school curriculum. The knowledge that the foundation has acquired has been recognized through the membership of M. Pool in expert groups from the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN).
The work of the foundation would not have been possible without the support of the many volunteers, employees and interns throughout the foundation's entire period of existence. Scientific support from local and international academics has helped the foundation give its publications the authority required for its purpose. In addition, there has always been a positive collaboration with various government agencies, including the Nature Conservation Division, the Fisheries Service and the Veterinary Service of the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Education. The work of the foundation would not have been possible without the support and cooperation of the entire Surinamese community, the many national and international donors, supporters and sponsors.
It is impossible to capture the entire history of the foundation in two pages. In this stage of its existence, the foundation has decided to adapt the logo with which the foundation presents itself. Although the name remains unchanged, a number of words have been added to highlight the work that the foundation is engaged in. The waves in the new logo also show that the foundation is involved with life in water. Green Heritage Fund, Protecting Nature and Wildlife in Suriname. With the support of the Surinamese community, the Green Heritage Fund will continue to work for at least another 15 years for nature and wildlife in Suriname. So that we can all live in harmony with nature. A major fundraising event will not be held at this time, but it is in the offing, adapted to the circumstances of the world today. Green Heritage Fund Suriname would like to thank everyone who has ever contributed to the work of the foundation in the past fifteen years, and in particular we want to thank you for being there for us.
Dank u, Gran Tangi, Thank you!
By Monique Pool | Director
By Monique Pool | Director
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