Suriname

Why in news?

Suriname’s government has pledged to protect 90% of its tropical forests, the most ambitious commitment to climate and biodiversity ever made by an Amazonian nation.

• It is located on the northern coast of South America, yet its population is one of the most ethnically diverse in the region.
• Capital – Paramaribo.
• Bordered by – Atlantic Ocean to the north, by French Guiana to the east, by Brazil to the south, and by Guyana to the west.
• Languages - Dutch, Sranan Tongo, plus regional languages.
• Topography and Landscape
  • Rainforests - Over 90% of Suriname's territory is covered by tropical rainforest, the highest proportion in the world.
  • Mountains and Valleys - The interior includes mountain ranges, isolated hills, and valleys, with Juliana Top being the highest summit.
  • Coastal Plain - The north features a swampy plain, which is a significant area for rice cultivation and home to reclaimed areas (polders) used for farming.
• Major Rivers – Maroni, the Coppename, the Suriname, and the Courantyne.
• Tropical Climate - Suriname experiences a tropical climate with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons throughout the year.
• Economy – Dependent on its extensive supply of natural resources, most notably bauxite, of which it is one of the top producers in the world.
• Highest forest cover – Suriname already has the world’s highest share of forest cover, with about 93% of its land blanketed in tropical rainforest.
• Most of that remains primary forest untouched by logging, agriculture, or mining.
• By pledging to permanently protect 90% of its tropical forests, Suriname sets a new standard for the Amazonian region as a whole, which has suffered from serious deforestation in recent decades.

Suriname is one of only 3 countries worldwide that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits — a so-called “carbon sink” — making its forests a critical buffer against global warming.

• The pledge far surpasses the “30x30” global target — a U.N.-backed goal for countries to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030.

References

1. The Hindu | Suriname’s pledge
2. Britannica | Suriname