Suriname’s world-renowned kickboxing world champion and national Wildlife Ambassador Tyrone Spong is moving forward with plans to establish a specialized institute focused on nature protection and environmental education, after holding initial strategic talks with top Surinamese government officials and conservation leaders.
Spong, who currently holds the title of Suriname’s Wildlife Ambassador, has held discussions on the initiative with Mike Noersalim, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV), and representatives from the Suriname Nature Parks Foundation (Stinapa), the government-affiliated conservation agency that operates under the LVV portfolio. The two sides are currently drafting a formal cooperation agreement to formalize the partnership between Spong and Stinapa for the project.
The athlete has announced that he plans to leverage his extensive global professional network and international public profile to advance the protection of Suriname’s unique native flora and fauna. A longtime advocate for conservation, Spong aims to integrate his active career as a world-class athlete with his ongoing conservation work, collaborating closely with government agencies and established local environmental organizations to scale up protection efforts across the country.
During the initial working meetings, participants addressed a range of persistent challenges facing protected area management in Suriname. Key issues raised included the lack of sustained long-term funding for conservation operations, gaps in patrol and monitoring across protected nature areas, and the urgent need to clarify formal designated uses for the country’s network of nature parks.
One of the core outcomes of the talks is a proposal to codify the partnership between Spong and Stinapa in a formal cooperation covenant. The document will outline shared initiatives and clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all participating stakeholders moving forward.
Minister Noersalim has expressed strong public support for this coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach to conservation. Additional working sessions are scheduled in the coming weeks to finalize the formal partnership agreement and identify specific, actionable conservation projects to roll out in the near term.
Spong’s connection to Suriname’s conservation efforts dates back to 2019, when he was awarded the Gold Medal of Commander in the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star, one of the country’s highest honors. According to the LVV, in his official role as Wildlife Ambassador, Spong’s core mandate is to raise public awareness of the importance of nature protection, while drawing international attention and securing global support for Suriname’s ongoing conservation work.