Revenue streams for forest managers in Suriname

Eli Prins, Bas Siebelink, Andries Polinder, Mark van Benthem, juli 2025

Suriname is by percentage the most forested country in the world, with over 90% forest cover, divided over the coastal plain, the savannah belt, and the country’s interior. Most forestry activities take place in the Forestry Belt, a 50 – 200 km wide, accessible zone of lowland rainforests across the northern part of the country. The forest management system of Suriname is based on a Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) system, implemented and supervised by the Foundation for Forest Management and Production Control (SBB).

FSC certification saw a strong uptake in the early 2010s but declined sharply after the 2017 FSC Intact Forest Landscapes (IFL) rules became effective, which require the vast majority of the IFL areas in concessions to be set aside for conservation purposes. As of April 2025, only one concession in Suriname remains FSC certified. Interest in FSC certification persists in Suriname, but is currently unviable for most concessions, as IFL are widespread in Suriname, including in forest concessions.

Timber is the primary revenue source for both concessionaries and community forests in Suriname. For concessions, timber is usually the only source of revenue, whereas for communities, revenues are more mixed. The forestry sector contributed 1.7% of Suriname’s national income in 2022 (66 million USD). Furthermore, the export of wood and wood-based products contributed about 3% to the total export value of Suriname in 2022 (81 million USD). Most timber (65%) is exported, predominantly as roundwood (96% in 2022), mainly to Asian markets (96%, primarily India, China, Vietnam). The forestry sector faces challenges, including limited processing capacity, a lack of skilled staff, and declining diameter classes of commercial species, which may threaten long-term yields. Concessions are the main producers of timber, responsible for 75% of roundwood production (121 active concessions in 2022, covering an area of 1.9 million ha). Community forests (covering an area of 826.000 ha) contributed 23% of production and generally have lower yields per hectare than concessions. Community forestry is hampered by the lack of land tenure rights and a lack of training, though some communities are developing their own enterprises and processing capacity. In addition, wood residues from timber processing are largely underutilized but represent a potential revenue stream if markets, local processing, and technical capacity are developed.

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)—including wildlife, bush meat, acai berries (podosiri), medicinal plants, and brazil nuts—are vital for community livelihoods, and are traded mostly via informal markets. The formal economic contribution is modest in comparison to timber. Export of live wildlife is valued at about USD 1 million per year, and medicinal plant exports at around USD 0.5 million. However, the real value is likely much higher due to underreporting, lack of data and subsistence use. Lack of certification and market access limits the potential for NTFPs to become formalized revenue streams.

Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes are not yet a practical revenue source for forest managers in Suriname. The national government of Suriname participates in REDD+ and ITMO carbon finance schemes, generating substantial government revenue (e.g. USD 80 million from REDD+ in 2024), but benefit-sharing mechanisms with forest managers have not yet been established. Forest managers therefore remain dependent on future government allocations of carbon income. PES schemes such as the FSC Ecosystem Services Procedure are currently not being implemented in Suriname, but have potential for revenue generation when markets for ecosystem services are more developed. Ecotourism is growing, especially for communities near rivers and creeks, offering additional income to some forest communities.

Probos makes the following recommendations to FSC, which could contribute to enhanced revenue generation from sustainable forest management by forest managers in Suriname:
• Stimulate the promotion of FSC-certified Lesser Known Timber Species (LKTS) and shorts
• Raise awareness and provide information on the FSC Ecosystem Services Procedure
• Facilitate & stimulate the establishment of an FSC group certificate in Suriname