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Suriname crackdown on illegal gold mining and logging

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-22 01:27 UTC → 2026-08-22 17:19 UTC · added removed

In late July 2026, the Surinamese Ministry of Land Policy and Forest Management met with Matawai community leaders to address rising illegal gold mining, poaching, and other forest crimes. The parties agreed to set up a permanent control post, expand monitoring, and train community members as rangers, with support from NGOs and the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent guiding future concessions. A week later, President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons announced the creation of a national Gold Authority to place the entire gold value chain under state supervision. The Authority aims to halt uncontrolled gold exports, boost treasury revenue, and improve security in mining zones plagued by armed groups. The government also highlighted cooperation with the planetGOLD programme, the Inter-American Development Bank, and local communities to promote mercury-free extraction and better registration of mining activities. By late August, the government expanded its enforcement focus to include unauthorized logging and illegal settlements in the interior. Minister Stanley Soeropawiro announced that following a two-week grace period, the state intends to remove individuals operating without legal permission to fell trees or reside on specific lands. Additionally, Following investigations into the ministry reported significant tree removal use of heavy machinery for illegal logging, the government issued eviction notices, and the grace period for these groups has now expired. Concerns persist regarding large-scale deforestation in the Tigri area, region, a territory subject to a long-standing border dispute between Suriname and Guyana. To combat these activities, Soeropawiro reported significant timber removal in the government area, which is exploring currently under Guyanese control, noting that the government remains reliant on satellite monitoring and scaling up forest surveillance through community training. imagery due to limited physical capacity in the zone. Additionally, the government is contesting an $86 million damage claim from Braganza Marketing Group regarding Mennonite settlements, maintaining that the group failed to conduct required environmental impact studies.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-22 17:19 UTC Suriname crackdown on illegal gold mining and logging
  2. 2026-08-22 01:27 UTC Suriname crackdown on illegal gold mining and logging
  3. 2026-08-07 09:21 UTC Suriname crackdown on illegal gold mining

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