BIGI PAN MUMA
(MULTIPLE-USE
MANAGEMENT AREA)
EXCHANGE OF NATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN THE SPHERE OF DEVELOPMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY -BASED TOURISM IN
PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS (ANPS) AMONG THE MEMBER COUNTRIES OF
ACTO
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Description of Bigi Pan MUMA
• Bigi Pan is situated in Northwest Suriname between the Atlantic Ocean and the Nickerie River.
• Bigi Pan is owned by the Federal Government and overseen by the Chief of the State Forest
Department and the Nature Conservation Division (NCD/LBB).
• It is a Multiple-Use Management Area (MUMA), serving other functions in addition to wildlife
protection, such as fishing and recreation.
• Bigi Pan provides a nursery for ocean fish, filters water and protects the mainland from rising
sea water levels and storms. High biodiversity at Bigi Pan makes it especially rewarding for
recreation and tourism.
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Map of Bigi Pan MUMA
BIGI
PAN
SOURCE: RONDREIS SURINAME
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1. The Territorial Management, which runs the experience of
development of community-based tourism in Bigi Pan MUMA.
• Bigi Pan, established in 1987, covers an area of 67,900 ha of territorial land and an equal
size in marine area. It is located in the Districts of Nickerie and Coronie. Bigi Pan is
designated as a conservation category of the Multiple Use Management Areas.
• All natural resources are the property of the Government and people of Suriname, this
according to the Constitution of Suriname. The responsibility for environmental policies,
including biodiversity, is entrusted to the Ministry of Labor, Technology Development and
Environment (ATM). The management of the forested areas falls under the Ministry of
Physical Planning, Land and Forestry Management (RGB). The authorities for Nature
Reserves such as Galibi are firm in terms of conservation and limitations of human
activities, whereas in MUMAs such as Bigi Pan, some livelihood and/or economic activities
may be allowed.
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Community Culture
Bigi Pan MUMA
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Fishing (Deep sea, Coastal, and Brackish water fishery)
Bird watching
Agriculture
Mineral resources
Energy resources
Research & Monitoring
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2. How do you manage the Protected Natural Areas in Bigi Pan
MUMA?
• The Laws of Suriname includes the Nature Conservation Act (1954) that is the main
legislative foundation for protected area policy formulation. Moreover the Nature
Conservation Act pertaining to the Protection of Fisheries Stock, Game Law and Agriculture
form harmonizing sustenance for MUMA.
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3. With what resources? Personal, financial, and other resources?
• MUMAs are designated to maintain biological productivity, ensuring the health of globally
significant wildlife, and protecting resources for sustainable livelihoods. Although MUMA’s are
intended to be multiple-use areas, the conservation of biodiversity and maintenance of
ecosystem services is the ultimate management objective. MUMAs may be commercially utilized
within sustainable limits, with permits required for both research and resource extraction.
• Some of the revenues generated from the Nature Reserves, Nature Parks and MUMAs are in
general invested in improving the same entities. International organization such as the Global
Environment Facility (GEF) have provided grants for projects, including three projects in
biodiversity. The Suriname Coastal Protected Area Management promotes the conservation of
biodiversity through improved management of protected areas along the western coast of
Suriname. The Suriname Conservation Foundation is an endowment fund, primarily created to
sustain the conservation of biodiversity. The focus was recently widened to sustainable use of
resources. Several private initiatives are there to support this work.
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4. What are the levels of sustainability of the experience in Bigi
Pan MUMA?
• Travelers to Suriname not only learn about the destination, they also learn how to help
sustain its character while deepening their own travel experiences.
• Sustainable Tourism is a form of tourism that calls travelers to a higher standard in all
belongings. The principles of sustainability can also be applied to all sectors of the tourism
industry in Suriname, particularly in Bigi Pan.
• The Ecological Zones of Suriname are its Natural resources, biodiversity and human
resources. Suriname is home to many species of flora and vertebrate. There are over •
5,800 species of flora of which 200 endemic species and 790 fish, 668 birds, 185
mammals, 152 reptiles and 95 amphibians.
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5. What degree of support and participation of the community of
the management of the tourism activities? Identification of the
community in Bigi Pan MUMA.
• In Bigi Pan the local communities have Javanese and Hindustani who sometimes work there.
Fishing and hunting in the Bigi Pan requires a permit; hunting complies with the
game/hunting calendar. Locals are increasingly engaged in monitoring of the environment,
biodiversity extraction etc. A formal decentralized management of Bigi Pan MUMA have yet
been realized.
• Local fishermen enjoy the Lareco and Wayambo areas for swamp fishing. Local tour
operators have developed exciting airboat rides in the tall grass swamps and lagoons north
of the Wayambo Road, and east of the Tambaredjo oil field, an area that has been advertised
as the ‘Suriname Everglades’.
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Ecotourism in Bigi Pan MUMA. Who are the
beneficiaries?
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Tour operators
Boat owners
Boat operators
Guest house owners
Housekeepers
Cooks
Tour guides
Hotels in Nickerie (combined trips of one night Residence
inn/next day Bigi Pan MUMA)
• Local entrepreneurs (market Nickerie)
• Coronie fruit /honey stalls
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6. Who are the internal and external key stakeholders in the
development of the tourism activity in Bigi Pan MUMA?
•
The Suriname Tourism Foundation (STF) was established in 1996 by the Ministry of Transport,
Communication and Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce and currently has 31 employees. The
foundation is a semi-government organization and overseen by TCT.
•
The public and private sector partnership (PPP) approach to the development of tourism in Suriname
has been successful. The tourism industry in Suriname has made a significant contribution to the
national economy. STF strives to be the leading tourism authority in Suriname, on the development and
promotion of the tourism sector. Suriname was included by 2010 issue of Lonely Planet’s Top Ten Best
Travel Destinations.
•
The Tourism Union of the Republic of Suriname (TOURS) was established in 2001 and is the
representative organization for the hospitality and tourism industry in Suriname. Members include
hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, bars tour operators and other tourism related companies. Suriname is
a member of the Combined Amazon Tourism Product (CATP), cooperation between Suriname, French
Guyana, and the Brazilian states Para, Amapa and Amazonas. The Amazon Caribbean Tourism Trail
(ACTT) in cooperation between Suriname, Guyana and the Brazilian State of Roraima. Suriname is also a
member of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO).
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7. How the benefits of all business transactions that are
raised from the tourism activity are shared? How?
• Movement of Ecotourism in Suriname (METS) currently is putting together a report on tourism
and its impact on the GDP of Suriname. This, will push the government to support the industry
more.
• The Integrated Tourism Development Program (ITDP) has shown that the tourism industry has
the potential to further grow as can be seen from the 60% growth from 2003 to 2012.
However, Suriname has no tourism master plan. The Development Plan (2012-16) includes a
chapter on tourism development. The focus will be on developing special interest tourism
especially nature-based tourism as is offered by Bigi Pan and Galibi. In addition to the
development of a Tourism Law focus can also be on opening a tourism training center and
developing tourism zones.
• Taking this development into consideration it is important to try to link up the tour operators
of Bigi Pan to the existing network of guides for gaining skills.
• Currently there are about 7,500 formal and informal jobs created in the sector.
• Through STF, the Public and the private sector are working closely together.
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8. The traditions, local and ancestral customs and practices of the
community are respected? How?
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•
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Suriname has a very diverse ethnic heritage, consisting of native indigenous people, Maroons, mixed Afro
Surinamese, descendants of immigrants from India, China, Indonesia, Europe and all possible mixes of
these groups, and an increasing number of immigrants from China and Brazil. Suriname is emerging as a
prime ecotourism and sport-fishing destination. Suriname is a multiethnic, multicultural, multilingual, and
multi-religious country.
The local community of Bigi Pan is interested in the co-management of protected areas. Environmental
protection of the protected area management must be an integrated approach that includes
environment, development, and recognition of and respect for the rights of the indigenous peoples,
including their ownership rights over our traditional lands, territories, and resources, and their knowledge
systems. It can be stated that the indigenous peoples, are willing to cooperate on basis of mutual respect
and equality.
The Government of Suriname through the semi-governmental agency strengthens the capacity of the
tourism sector to apply and expand the sustainable development of tourism infrastructure and services
that support sustainable land use and nature conservation. Further to develop and implement guidelines
and codes of conduct for ecotourism operators and in promoting ecologically sustainable tourism in the
region, including developing regional codes of conduct for tour operators, and convening appropriate
training courses.
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9. Development of an inventory of tourism products.
• Tourist products are the means to satisfy primary and secondary needs. While, secondary or
derived tourist needs are those arising from the decision to make a tourist trip. Primary tourist
supply, include natural attractions and historic sites, such as Bigi Pan MUMA. Nature
attractions such as Bigi Pan MUMA and Galibi offer activities, amenities and both are easily
accessible.
• The Nickerie/Bigi Pan Tour starts in Paramaribo where you depart for a 3-hour trip by bus to
Nickerie. On the way tourists may enjoy interesting sights such as the bridge over the
Coppename River and the State Oil Company, Staatsolie. Tourists may stay various hotels in
Nickerie. Then , a trip by boat to the Bigi Pan MUMA well known for its abundance of birds and
fish.
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10. The identified experience has allowed the creation of a
community vision of the future of tourism in the
community?
• Suriname’s virgin rainforest of exotic fauna and flora, its multi-ethnic capital, Paramaribo, a
UNESCO World Heritage site of grand colonial architecture, and blessed with peace and
little crime, all are attracting tourists to Suriname.
• With continuous political and economic stability and a more serious approach to tourism
that addresses the concerns of the private sector by the government, Suriname can very
much become a tourist destination for many people around the globe.
• Co-management should be part of the national development principle. New legislation on
land use and co-management are needed to expand the categories of protected areas and
buffer zones in Suriname. Thereby, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources
and the conservation of the biological diversity are managed in a sustainable way, with
equitable sharing of costs and benefits.
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Bigi Pan Nature Reserve
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