The Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation
ATBC 2008 - Nassau Plateau
- Scientific Program (2,5M)
- Brochure front side (4M)
- Brochure back side (3M)
- Poster ATBC2008 (5M)
Nassau Plateau
The Nassau and Lely Plateaus in eastern Suriname (map) contain a wide range of habitats—they also serve as an important watershed for the region and offer potential employment through small-scale mining. Until now, information on the area’s flora and fauna was incomplete, making conservation planning difficult. (Photo : IJskreek (c) Jan Wirjosentono).
In a letter addressed to the President of the Republic of Suriname, Ministers, Authorities, Embassadors, NGOs, and media, Dr. Jan Mol from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname (ADEKUS) draw attention to a resolution that has recently been formally approved by the Executive Council of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC). (Photo : Rivulus species (c) Adrian Flynn)
Dr. Jan Mol recalls that a Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) expedition of Conservation International in 2005 and subsequent field and laboratory studies by various Universities and Museum have revealed a rich fish and amphibian (Photo: purple Atelopus sp. (c) Paul Ouboter) fauna in Nassau Mountains with a number of new species (see ATBC2008 news) that are endemic (restricted in their distribution) to the area.
He also mentions that mining of these bauxite deposits would negatively affect water quality and quantity in Nassau’s streams and thereby threaten its endemic fishes and amphibians with extinction.
Summary about Environmental impacts of bauxite and gold mining in Nassau Mountains, Suriname
Articles by Jan Mol, Kenneth Wan Tong You, Frank van der Lugt & Paul Ouboter in the local newspaper De Ware Tijd : 20 march 2009 - pdf and 21 march 2009 - pdf
Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) in Suriname
Rapid Biological Assessment of the Lely and Nassau Plateaus, Suriname (with additional information on the Brownsberg Plateau). The University fo Chicago Press. pdf
This book presents the results of a 2005 biological survey to the region that collected data on birds, mammals, fishes, and selected insect species. It documents the species found and makes specific conservation recommendations for the plateaus.
Table of expeditions and studies pdf
About Bird Diversity at Nassau Plateau : Bird International
About Plant Diversity at Nassau pdf
New species discovered un Suriname in the Media pdf
About Orchids at Lely pdf
About ATBC declaration and resolution
Paramaribo Declaration pdf
ATBC Resolution pdf
Dr Jan Mol's letter pdf
In the media: De Ware Tijd (DWTonline.com) pdf (dutch).
About the mining threat in Suriname
An article By Bill Laurance pdf
Merian Gold Project pdf
Mongabay.com "Biologists warn of rainforest mining threat from Alcoa, Newmont in Suriname" and other articles on similar facts in the Guianas.
Middle reach of IJskreek which is fueled by shallow bauxite-rock aquifer and has year-round clear, running water. More fishes occur in this part of the stream, among them two Lithoxus species, a trichomycterid catfish and Harttiella crassicauda (photo by Jan Wirjosentono, CI-RAP expedition, October/November 2005).