Conservation International Suriname

Conservation International Suriname is a Surinamese environmental organization that is part of the global CI network, active in more than 30 countries. Since 1992, we have been working hand in hand with communities, government agencies, and partners to protect ecosystems while promoting inclusive development.

Vision

Suriname is the greenest country in the world forever with a prosperous and happy population.

Mission

To preserve Suriname’s rich biodiversity and ecosystems for the well being of our current and future generations.

Our values

At the heart of our mission lies a set of timeless values that guide every decision and action:

Passion
We are driven by a deep passion for nature, celebrating the richness of life from the ocean floor to the mountain peaks.

Respect
We respect and trust each other, embracing the diversity of cultures, talents, and perspectives that strengthen our work.

Integrity
We make every decision with integrity and are accountable for the choices we make.

Optimism
We believe in a future where life on Earth can thrive. With our partners, we are confident that conservation can deliver unprecedented successes.

Courage
We have the courage to take bold action, stand firm in the face of challenges, and pursue our vision with perseverance and enthusiasm.

Teamwork
We rely on teamwork, recognizing that openness, collaboration, and cooperation are fundamental to achieving a healthy and prosperous world for all.

Our team

Gina Griffith
Executive Director

Herman Fraser
Delivery & Monitoring Director

Iraida Plein
Human Resource Manager

Remesa Lang
Development & Communications Coordinator

Trisha Sookdeo
Sr. Accounting Coordinator

Vaneesha Mangal
Finance & General Services Coordinator

Bianca Overeem
Sr.Grants & Contract Coordinator

Ivor Balsemhof
Senior Field Engagement & Safety Advisor

Shaniel Gena
Senior Technical Coordinator TWTIS

Priscilla Dompig
Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting Coordinator

Jerry Rasdan
GIS & Sr. Project Coordinator

Xaviera Karijodinomo
Technical Administrative Coordinator

Lindie Aboikoni
Safeguards & Community Engagement Coordinator

Our history

Conservation International Suriname was established as a foundation under Surinamese law on 29 December 1992 and officially registered on 18 January 1993. For more than three decades, we have been at the forefront of advancing green development in Suriname and across the wider region.

Tribal knowledge and medicinal plants

Our earliest initiatives focused on unlocking the potential of traditional knowledge and medicinal plants to generate sustainable income for Indigenous and tribal communities. Through the International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups project, we broke new ground on intellectual property rights, supported community development, and enriched Suriname’s national botanical inventory.

Central Suriname Nature Reserve

In 1998, we signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Suriname to establish the 1.6 million-hectare Central Suriname Nature Reserve (CSNR). Within just six months, the Reserve was formally created, and by 2000, it earned recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To safeguard its long-term future, the Suriname Conservation Foundation was founded in 2000, with major contributions from Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, and the Government of Suriname.

Ecotourism

In 2000, Conservation International designed Suriname’s first national ecotourism development plan, helping the sector grow into the country’s third-largest source of foreign income. Between 2000 and 2007, we worked in Raleighvallen (CSNR) to develop it as a model site for niche-market ecotourism. From 2006 to 2008, in close partnership with the Trio community of Kwamalasamutu, we co-created Suriname’s first community-owned and managed eco-lodge within an 18,000-hectare sanctuary. This sanctuary protects the sacred Werehpai caves, home to remarkable petroglyphs discovered in 2000 by Kamanja Paneshekung, a community member and one of our dedicated fieldworkers.