The importance of sustainable forest management in Suriname

Making knowledge work for forests and people
The importance of sustainable
forest management in Suriname
Rudi van Kanten
Forestry belt
Forestry in Suriname
Forest cover 14.8 million ha
(94%)
Timber Cutting Licenses
Forest companies
Temporary maintained
forest
Protected forests
Production forest
Concessions
57%
13%
30%
1.6 million ha
Community forests
600,000 ha
Logging companies
Sawmills
Timber markets
Plywood factory
Furniture factories
200
75
115
1
91
Timber export 2012 per region
Region
Asia
Detail
Percentage
90.7 %
China (45%)
India, Singapore
Europe
6.0 %
Netherlands (4%)
Belgium (2%)
North and Central America
South America
Caribbean
Oceania
Total
2.0 %
1.0 %
1.0 %
0.3 %
100.0 %
Timber export 2012 per assortment in m3
Assortment
Rondhout
Volume in m3
Value in US$
107.852
12.927.901
Vierkant bekapte palen
937
302.156
Letterhout
427
1.438.470
11.140
3.570.331
111
77.177
120.467
18.316.035
Gezaagd hout
Gereed product
Totaal
Contribution ‘certified’ timber 2013
Category
m3
%
FSC certified companies
15,976
4%
Companies with VLC certificate
88,037
23%
Non certified' production
276,619
73%
Total production
380,632
100%
Added value of sustainable forest management
• Less damage to the
forest
• SFM = Higher
production costs
• This needs to be
compensated with
better prices at the
export market
Added value of sustainable forest management
• Certified operations have a
good reputation and serve as
an example to follow for
other companies
– This may also count for
community forests in the future
• Exported timber from legal
source
• 5-10% Illegal timber
– on the domestic market or
passing the border with Guyana
Added value of sustainable forest management
• SBB (Stichting Bosbeheer en Bostoezicht) has good
national standards in place
– Log tracking system
• A market for Sustainably produced timber is a good
reason to guarantee compliance with the laws and
regulations (timber legality)
• Government: Export tax on logs of 20% of the FOB
price to discourage export non processed timber
If demand for sustainably produced timber
decreases
• Companies can still export timber
• Lesser profits by selling to lesser requiring markets
e.g. Asia
• Less local added value to timber
– = less contribution to national economy
• Continuation of export of round-wood
If demand for sustainably produced timber
decreases
• Less stimulation for
sustainable production of
timber which will lead to
forest degradation
• Although being small the
Surinamese timber
market has proven to be a
reliable partner for the
Netherlands (4% of timber
exports). This has to
nurtured.
Thank you
www.tropenbos.org
•
Acknowledgement SBB, Photos
TBI Suriname