Regulatory framework
This Act establishes the regional bodies as mentioned in Articles 159 and 164 of the Constitution and provides for the definition of their functions and duties and for their functioning. They are representative bodies (District Councils and Resort Councils) and executive bodies (District Councils and Resort Councils and District Boards. The District Council is the highest political-administrative body of the district, whereas the highest authority in a resort (kind of municipality) is the Resort Council.
This Act amends the Act on Regional Bodies and the Water Boards Act 1931 for the purpose of reactivating Water Boards and to provide for coordination between Water Boards and regional administrative bodies in the framework of functional and geographical decentralisation. The amended Water Boards Act provides that Water Boards are established, modified or abolished by State Order of the Minister responsible for regional administration. For the areas where no Water Board is established, the regional body shall be responsible for the administration of water resources.
This plan addresses the issue of water from human consumption and the problems that the country has in meeting this need. It is mentioned that they are seeking to approve 4 new laws to improve the situation.
This Act deals with the protection and sustainable management of the environment in Suriname and the implementation and enforcement of obligations arising from Suriname's membership of international agreements, in particular the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the Paris Agreement, and the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions (Conventions on COP and CFP, respectively). Another important issue is the investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of offenses defined in this Act as environmental crimes. The Act consists of 77 articles divided into 11 chapters: General Provisions (I); The National Environmental Authority (II); Duty of Care (III); Environmental Strategy (IV); Environmental Activities and Consequences (V); Pollution Control - Environmental Pollution and Standards (VI); Waste and Hazardous Substances (VII); Legal Protection Mechanisms (VIII); Environmental Crimes and Penalties (IX); Provisions on Implementation and Other Provisions (X); Transitional and Final Provisions (XI).
The National Adaptation Plan is a national policy with a multisectoral approach. The policy's time frame is 10 years, from 2019 to 2029. This Adaptation Plan establishes medium- and long-term adaptation strategies for the management and reduction of long-term climate risks in the country at the national and sectoral levels.
The National Agricultural Innovation Strategy of the Republic of Suriname is a national strategy with a cross-cutting approach. The vision of this strategy is for Suriname to have established itself as the food basket of the Caribbean by 2025. The mission of the strategy is to promote and facilitate innovation among farmers to improve their competitiveness in local and foreign markets. The core values that will guide its implementation are as follows (i) An integrated and holistic approach to “agricultural innovation system”; (ii) Focus on results and have clear and measurable objectives; (iii) The importation of knowledge and technology is key to Suriname's agricultural innovation strategy; (iv) Responsiveness to the needs of stakeholders (farmers, processors, exporters, consumers); (v) Stimulation of entrepreneurship and learning among farmers and fishermen; (vi) Dynamic and learning organization that experiments with different approaches. Expected results include improved performance of the agricultural innovation system, improved agricultural innovation, and increased yields.
Law containing rules to prevent the introduction and spread of plant diseases and to control such diseases in plants, plant products, and other regulated goods.
Law for the management and conservation of forest resources, and to regulate forest exploitation and the primary forest processing industry, with the aim of enhancing the economic, social, and ecological functions of forests as a national resource and promoting the responsible development of the forest industry (preamble).
Institutional Framework
MONR was established on July 26, 1958, with the purpose to ensure sustainable and efficient management and development of the natural resources potentially present in Suriname.
In order to achieve the objective, the following tasks have been assigned to the Ministry:
Development and implementation of a national policy on natural resources and energy;
Responsible for inventory, exploration, optimal exploitation and management of: minerals, the natural resource water and the natural resources needed for energy;
Water management, where necessary in an interdepartmental context;
The drinking water supply;
The energy supply;
Checking compliance with rules and regulations regarding minerals, water management, generation, transport and distribution of energy.
Is a public limited company of which the government is the sole shareholder. The daily management of the company is in the hands of the board of directors, which consists of a director and two deputy directors.
The shareholder, the State of Suriname, is represented by a board of directors. At the time of the PARWAT project, a project was also carried out to strengthen and make the business operations more efficient (Insterwat). Due to an increase in the number of connections in the traditional service areas and the takeover of areas of the Water Supply Service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the company has grown enormously.
In addition to its task, the Ministry has the duty to contribute to the management of the financial and economic crisis, the management of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the stimulation of economic growth, diversification and employment, and the creation of social security and better opportunities for every Surinamese. In order to optimally contribute to the long-term goals of the government and the sector, the Ministry has focused its policy goals on:
The needs and goals of the sectors,
The national goals included in the 2020-2025 coalition agreement,
The goals set out in the Recovery Plan,
The long-term development vision of the Multi-Year Development Plan 2022-206,
As well as international treaties, standards and prospects.
The Hydraulic Research Division (WLA), maintains the hydrological and water quality data of surface water in Suriname. WLA falls under the Subdirectorate of Research and Innovation of the Directorate of Research and Services of the Ministry of Public Works. According to the ministry’s organizational chart, WLA consists of three parts, namely Scientific Research, Basic Measurement & Logistics and Administration.
Mission: 1. Meteorologische Dienst Suriname (MDS) Meteorological Service Suriname Department of Ministry of Public Works Transportation & Communication www.meteosur.sr Collecting required information about weather and climate in the broadest sense of the word 2. Contributing to the safety in the broadest sense by providing timely forecast, warnings and analyzes of the weather and climate.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has 4 directorates. These are:
Directorate of Agriculture
Directorate of Livestock
Directorate of Fisheries
Directorate of Agricultural Research, Marketing and Processing
*Beekeeping falls under the Directorate of Agriculture.
Responsible for general land policy, including the implementation of forest and protected area management, the ministry is legally the institute in charge of formulating national spatial planning policy.
Coordinates and generates territorial planning for regional development and regional administration. Supports agricultural development in the interior. Supports the sustainable development of the indigenous and Afro-Surinamese population. It includes support for the supply of drinking water and sanitation in the interior.
In charge of health policy. Controls the quality of water for drinking uses (nets and bottles). In charge of the treatments of people affected by water-related diseases. Awareness and communication about water, sanitation and hygiene.
It is responsible for hydrography and channel management: depth measurements, chart preparation and tidal measurement.
As an autonomous government foundation, executive entity of the National Environmental Council:
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It begins the development of a national, legal and institutional framework for environmental policy and management for sustainable development.
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Prepares and implements the legal framework related to the environment.
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Coordinates and supervises public policies.
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Education and research:
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Facilitator of the Suriname Water Resources Information System (SWRIS).
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Focal point of the BIO-PLATEAUX project in this country.
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As a scientific institute, CELOS offers multidisciplinary research training and services in the agricultural and forestry sector for the development of Suriname. Service to other users of spatial data. Knowledge transfer.
Management of Wakay pumps and cleaning of the Corentyne canal - Reestablishment of district water boards in rice-growing areas.
LINKIs a web-based scientific framework with water-related information on Suriname (water portal). It is open to public. The main goal is to promote and foster human resources development (knowledge and techniques) on intergrated water resources management (IWRM) in Suriname focused on sustainable use of water resources.
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The average annual rainfall in Suriname is 2 331 mm or 382 km3 /year over the country's territory. Water resources are abundant. The internal renewable water resources (IRWR) are approximately 99 km3 /year, which is equal to the flows of the internal rivers and approximately 50 percent of the flows of each of the rivers bordering Guyana and the river bordering French Guiana. In 2006, total water withdrawal was estimated at 615.9 million m3, of which 70 percent was for agricultural purposes, 8 percent for municipal purposes, and 22 percent for industrial purposes.Surface water is used for agricultural and industrial purposes. Urban, rural, and coastal areas use groundwater for their water supply because of its higher quality, but saltwater intrusion into wells due to overpumping is increasing.
Suriname
Most inland rural areas use rainwater harvesting or surface water for their water supply.The main irrigation technique is surface irrigation. Of the total irrigated area of 2,000 ha of bananas,1 100 ha use sprinkler irrigation systems. The other 900 ha use surface systems. Irrigation for bananas varies, depending on the climate. Much less irrigation is used in areas where rainfall is more uniform and distributed.
Links of interest: