Saamaka Tribe Takes to Mapping to Safeguard Their Ancestral Lands in Suriname’s Amazon

Deep within the Amazon rainforest of Suriname, Navaldo Vola and a group of Saamaka men trekked through dense vegetation, uncovering a massive abandoned excavator and evidence of logging encroachments on their ancestral lands. This discovery followed the finding of a makeshift camp believed to be used by Chinese loggers. Vola remarked on their realization that the logging threat was more extensive than previously known, emphasizing the importance of their untouched land.

In response to increasing threats from roads, logging, and gold mining, the Saamaka community is employing satellite imagery and GPS mapping to monitor incursions and document their traditional forest management system. Their project, named Apaki, aims to secure government recognition of their land rights, a commitment to which Suriname pledged in 2022. Despite an international court ruling that ordered recognition of their rights, implementation has been delayed. Community leaders emphasize the need for legal acknowledgment and protection to ensure the preservation of their forests for future generations.