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Environment & Climate

Suriname's Saamaka confront forest losses nearly two decades after court ruling

Associated Press reports tribal territories in Suriname have lost nearly 154,000 hectares of forest since 2001, while the government says it is updating its legal framework.

Updated Oct 26, 2026 · 14:18 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • Associated Press reports that Suriname's tribal territories have lost nearly 154,000 hectares of forest since 2001.[Associated Press · Associated Press]
  • Nationwide, about 200,000 hectares of humid primary forest were lost between 2002 and 2025, according to Global Nature Watch.[Associated Press]
  • Presidential adviser John Goedschalk said the government is updating its legal framework to allow community-protected areas to be formally established.[Associated Press · Associated Press]
  • Hugo Jabini, of the Association of Saamaka Communities, reported a death threat after challenging a mining concession, and said he knew of no planned government talks on forest protection.[Associated Press · Associated Press]

Key facts

  • Suriname has about 650,000 people and is roughly 93% forested.[Associated Press · Associated Press]
  • Tribal territories in Suriname have lost nearly 154,000 hectares of forest since 2001.[Associated Press · Associated Press]
  • About 200,000 hectares of humid primary forest were lost nationwide between 2002 and 2025, according to Global Nature Watch.[Associated Press]
  • About 60,000 Saamaka people live in Suriname, according to the Association of Saamaka Communities.[Associated Press]
  • In 2007, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ordered Suriname to recognize Saamaka collective land rights.[Associated Press · Associated Press]
  • Presidential adviser John Goedschalk said the government is updating its legal framework to allow community-protected areas to be formally established.[Associated Press · Associated Press]
  • Hugo Jabini said he received a death threat earlier this year after communities challenged a mining concession near a protected forest area.[Associated Press · Associated Press]
  • Jabini said he was unaware of any plans for talks between the government and Saamaka leaders on forest protection.[Associated Press]

What remains uncertain

  • Whether the government's planned legal changes and any talks with Saamaka leaders will proceed is unclear, as Jabini said he knew of no such plans.[Associated Press]
  • Saamaka leaders say key elements of the 2007 ruling remain unfulfilled, while the government's position on implementation is not detailed in the reporting.[Associated Press · Associated Press]
  • The death threat is reported by Jabini and is not independently confirmed in the available reporting.[Associated Press · Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.