North-West Suriname (23540)
Suriname, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Noord-West Suriname
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.5000, Longitude: -57.0000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): -2 to 75
Area of KBA (km2): 2613.23388
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is situated east of the Corantijn river in the north-west of Suriname. There are large grass-swamps, in some parts swaying swamps. There are swamp forests along the creeks and rivers in the IBA. There are important populations of Giant River Otters and Manatees. The south-west of the IBA is used for hunting and fishing by the local indiginous people from Apoera and Washabo. For this reason the Kaboeri creek has been left out of the proposal for the MUMA.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: Two restricted range species occur in this IBA, Veniliornis sanguineus Blood-colored Woodpecker and Picumnus minutissimus Arrowhead Piculet. The total number of species is 302 of which 17 are biome restricted. Hence this a IBA on A2 and A3 criteria. Very little research has been done. Non-bird biodiversity: This site is also habitat for the Black Spider monkey( Ateles paniscus paniscus),the Ara Macao and the Tamandua (Tamandua longicaudata longicaudata).
Other site values: Owned by the state, indigenous people from Apura and Washabo have traditional rights for hunting and fishing.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | hunting | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 82 | |
| Forest | 15 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 1 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 1 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 1 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Poaching from Guyana. Legal and illegal catching of birds for pet trade.