Building a Brighter Future for Perica: Sustainable Tourism for Suriname's Indigenous Peoples
- Community development
- Conservation
- Pollution
- Rural development
- Sustainable development
- Water Supply
- Wildlife conservation
SURONNA
FRANCIS-NORTAN
AMAZON DREAM
, PM
AMAZON DREAM
+5978300077
COLERUSSTRAAT # 4, GEYERSVLIJT, PARAMARIBO, SURINAME
, PM
, MA
Yes
1. Bring the Perica community together by holding stakeholder meetings to incite discussion and interest in sustainable tourism.
2. Hold various participatory workshops with stakeholders to do the following:
a. Identify key areas along the Perica that would be suitable for tourism development
b. Identify key stories of historical importance and interest that would be conveyed to tourists
c. Identify sustainable sources of income related to tourism – tour guiding, bird watching, craft making, river excursions, etc.
5. Educate the local community about the importance of environmental stewardship, including mangrove and river ecosystems and land based resources which will incite the slowing of environmental degradation in the area.
7. Seek out a pro bono environmental consultant to formulate a draft restoration plan for the physical restoration of the river system.
8. Train local residents in the sustainable tourism related activities adopted in the first workshops, as well as in small business management and customer service.
9. Have sustainable tourism businesses up and running by the beginning of the 3rd year
The results in the first three years of the project will mainly be in the form of capacity development and training and include the following:
1. Awareness and appreciation of the links between the environment and sustainable livelihoods and the importance of using our natural resources wisely is increased among the general public,stakeholders, government officials and politicians
2. Residents trained in environmental education and practical skills related to the sustainable tourism
3. Decline or cessation of degradation of the natural habitat surrounding the Perica
4. Four training workshops, including customer service, small business management, tour guiding, and handicrafts production.
5. Increased capacity for Perica residents to manage small tourism related business
6. Increased income for the residents of the Perica from sustainable tourism related activities
Year 1: Participatory Planning Workshops: in an effort to open a dialogue amongst a broad range of stakeholders. The main objective of these workshops will be to determine the Surinamese community’s vision for sustainable use of the Perica River, assessing the feasibility of different options, and developing a plan to pursue the vision. The plan would directly benefit a number of fish and bird species while addressing the river’s main conservation needs, including removal of impediments to natural hydrologic flow, improvement of habitats and re-establishment of flora and fauna, as well as the community’s need for sustainable economic development opportunities (e.g. ecotourism). A wide range of stakeholders (local NGOs, government, fishing community, businesses, residents, etc.) will be invited to participate in the planning process and share their views. Additionally, experts such as marine, wetland, and coral reef restoration ecologists, ornithologists, marine engineers, and sustainable tourism experts will provide assessments and expert advice to help guide the restoration planning.
Year 2: Increase awareness of the importance of mangrove and river ecosystems in Perica—their ecology, history, and economic and cultural importance, and increase knowledge and appreciation of Perica’s fish and bird life. Activities under this phase include but are not limited to:
• Dissemination of an educational brochure/fact sheet on the story of Perica
• Preparation and publication of article(s) on the Perica River restoration project in the local newspapers
• Establishment of a Perica River Restoration Project website with updates, materials and information
• Conducting interviews on local radio and writing press releases for newspapers about the project; invite the community to be involved in the restoration work and other activities
• Continuation of local celebrations of World Wetlands Day and International Coastal Clean-up Day
Year 3: Develop sustainable local tourism and livelihood opportunities for local people. Our approach will be to facilitate the creation of a community vision and overall strategic plan following some key principles and guidelines. Developing a marketing plan, building infrastructure, rehabilitating tourist attractions, training guides and developing a Perica Watchable Wildlife River with a renewal theme.
Lack of stakeholder buy in would be a road block to the completion of this project, as it is imperative that the community in the Perica sees the local benefits of this project. Should they not, there is the risk that the project could be sabotaged. In order to avoid this, a participatory approach in all stages of planning and implementation will be taken.
As the Perica is in a remote area it is difficult to draw and keep highly qualified personnel to a project such as this as well as to attract appropriately qualified people to conduct training workshops.
101‐1000
$100 ‐ 1000
Yes
Idea phase
, MA
Yes
Association for Development of Perica
More than 5 years
Yes
Yes
No
No
There are a number of active Non Governmental Oorganizations and Community Based Oorganizations in Suriname that work on various environmental, economic and social problems, including the Association for Development of Perica, Conservation International Suriname and, World Wildlife Foundation Guianas. These organizations will be contacted at different stages throughout the course of the project to collaborate efforts and resources for the development of a better Perica.
Additionally, the project will be implemented in consultation with an active involvement of the relevant Government ministries and departments that have an interest in and jurisdiction over the resource, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Tourism, Communication and Transport and the Ministry of Health and Environment. We will present plans for sustainable-use options for the river and its immediate environ, highlighting the importance and effects of conservation and preservation of the natural environment, the jobs and other economic benefits to be derived from the project.
1. Registering name of organization
2. Research and investigation
3. Establishing official presence (office space)
Following a war that occurred from the year 1986-1991 in the Perica region, the Association for Development of Perica started in the year 1999 with an aim to rebuild Perica. Perica was one of the main areas that was destructed because of its strategic location; providing the use of its connecting East-West waterways. During that time many people left the area because the jungle commando group was very destructive towards the society, raping women and killing their husbands and driving everyone out of their homes. Even till a few years ago, the main street was still full of holes made by dynamites from the war planted by the commando’s ambushers from the swamps and bushes in the area. The Perica River obtains its water from the swamps in the surrounding areas and runs into the Cottica River. In the past Perica was only able to be reached by waterway, but then the Government saw it necessary to construct roads from Suriname’s capital, Paramaribo to the District Albina, crossing through the Perica region. Only recently, a few people returned to their homes. Currently the population is approximately 400 with their income relying mainly on fishing from the Perica River and surrounding creeks, agriculture and hunting.
Traditional livelihoods in Perica rely on a healthy, functioning ecosystem. The natural beauty and rich biodiversity of the Perica River area offers additional opportunities for many non-consumptive uses (eg. bird/nature and cultural heritage tourism, low impact recreational activities, etc). Participation in the restoration process by stakeholders that are committed to the wise and sustainable use of their natural resources will help ensure the success of this project. Development of sustainable tourism and livelihood activities that provide jobs and other benefits for the community will lead to long-term conservation. There are many active community groups and organizations in Suriname that see an urgent need to clean up the environment, use resources wisely, and develop skills that will enable them to manage the country and benefit economically from a well-planned tourism strategy.
Through another organization or company
Inter-American Development Bank
Yes
Two members of the team have been involved directly in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluationng of participatory projects funded and co financed by international organizations such as the Lighthouse Foundation, NOAA, GCFI, SCSCB, NFWF through employment with the Sustainable Grenadines Project, University of the West Indies. The Sustainable Grenadines Project's main focus was conservation of coastal and marine environment. (see website: http://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/cermes/susgrenadinesIndex.html)
Non registered Organization
Access to knowledge and training.
The project seeks to educate, build capacity and develop sustainable alternative livelihoods for the Perica population. This will be achieved through workshops and training sessions, as persons in the area will be made more aware of different approaches that can be taken to earn a living without having to degrade the environment by over-use of resources.
There are approximately four hundred indigenous persons in the Perica region located in the Disrtict Marowijne to the North-East coast of Suriname in South America who will benefit from this initiative. Their main source of income is fishing and hunting from the already depleted resources provided by the Perica River and surrounding areas. If they are educated on the conservation and preservation of the environment, the different approaches to alternative livelihoods and restoration and development of the Perica area, they will be able to adequately provide for their families while contributing to the economic development of the area and the country as a whole.
Longer-term strategies for education, outreach, and the promotion of stewardship will be based upon development of sustainable tourism and livelihood employment opportunities. Our approach will be to facilitate the creation of a community vision and overall strategic plan following some key principles and guidelines covered in the workshop. Developing a marketing plan, building infrastructure, creating interpretive materials, rehabilitating tourist attractions, training guides and small business owners, developing a Perica Watchable Wildlife River with a renewal theme, and creating a natural heritage trail in the area are a few of the actions that could provide employment as well as highlight and conserve the unique beauty, natural history, fisheries, bird life, and culture of Perica.
US$200,000
US$100,000
US$50,000
US$50,000