ATBC 2008 - ATBC in SR01
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ATBC in Suriname
With some 85 % of its 16 million ha land territory covered with mature tropical forest, most of it pristine, and a population of less than 500.000 people, largely concentrated in parts of the coastal area, Suriname certainly deserves the attention of students of Neotropical forests. Suriname also harbors coastal wetlands of global importance, as obvious from their RAMSAR and WHSRN status. Reasons enough for ATBC and GTOE members to be interested in Suriname and the Guiana Shield.
While most of the comparisons across Neotropical rainforests have been based on case studies from Costa Rica, Panama and Manaus (Brazil), we call for comparisons between locations in the Guiana Shield and other Neotropical areas during the symposia of the 2008 ATBC meeting in Suriname. We expect invited speakers and participants to make such cross-continental comparisons, as well as global comparisons, not just in relation to forests, but also in relation to other ecosystems such as wetlands, mangroves and savannas. Our goal is to promote the interchange of ideas between scientists from the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australasia, the Pacific, and other parts of the Globe.
Linking Tropical Biology and Conservation
International institutions and NGOs, such as Conservation International, Tropenbos International and World Willdlife Fund, are today actively engaged in promoting the conservation of the ecosystems of the Guiana Shield region. However, research collaboration in the region is relatively disjointed in comparison to other regions despite the clear advantage accruing through joint research and conservation initiatives. There is a need for more effective interaction between the regional scientists and their European and North American counterparts.
We strongly believe that a well attended ATBC meeting in 2008 will stimulate the development of collaborative research, training and conservation initiatives between individuals, organizations and institutions with a commitment to the study and conservation of ecosystems in the Guiana Shield.
The 2008 meeting should allow scientists, students and practitioners to literally sit at the same table to discuss the most important issues regarding the future of the global study of biology and conservation of tropical ecosystems. Such discussions will determine the direction of their research and conservation efforts and may very well influence the direction of the efforts of others in the Guiana Shield region and across the globe.
Amazonian tapir (Tapirus terrestris)