The Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHATA) has issued an urgent environmental alert regarding the escalating crisis at Brownsberg Nature Park, an internationally recognized conservation and tourism destination in Brokopondo district. What initially began as concerns about inadequate maintenance has rapidly evolved into a full-scale ecological emergency due to proliferating gold mining operations.
Multiple sites within the protected area now show severe degradation. The Witikreek area has been transformed into an active gold mining site, while guides at the Irene Falls recently confronted heavy machinery and experienced intimidation when attempting to document the destruction. Simultaneously, the Leo Valley sector continues to suffer from extensive deforestation and excavation caused by illegal mining activities.
Industry representatives Dinesh Ramlal of Travel The Guianas, along with Dick Lock and Lieke Verwoerd of Unlock Nature, have formally communicated the tourism sector’s grave concerns to government authorities and relevant institutions. They emphasize the critical need for immediate intervention before Brownsberg sustains irreversible damage.
SHATA’s communications underscore Suriname’s unique position: “As one of the world’s few nations where nature requires not restoration but merely protection, preserving Brownsberg has never been more urgent. In an era where healthy ecosystems are becoming increasingly scarce—and may soon hold greater literal value than gold—effective conservation is paramount.” The association notes that despite repeated warnings from NGOs, guides, tour operators, and concerned citizens, substantive protective measures remain absent.
The association has outlined an eight-point action plan demanding:
1. Immediate enforcement against illegal gold mining operations within and surrounding the park
2. Establishment of a permanent security and surveillance outpost staffed by military police, regular police, or LBB personnel
3. Development of a comprehensive, sustainable management strategy integrating conservation, security, and tourism
4. Restoration of essential infrastructure including access roads and accommodation facilities
5. Structured collaboration between government agencies, guides, tour operators, NGOs, and local communities
6. Professionalization of the governing foundation STINASU
7. Support for temporary initiatives including crowdfunding campaigns
8. Creation of an investment-friendly framework for public-private partnerships
SHATA maintains that while the situation remains critical, it is still reversible. With robust government intervention supported by tourism sector professionals and conservation experts, Brownsberg could be restored and repositioned as one of Suriname’s most valuable natural treasures.