conservation of amphibians in suriname 341 Conservation of amphibians in Suriname In general, amphibians are not protected in Suriname. However, the export is regulated through a quota system. The only subspecies that is not allowed for export is Dendrobates tinctorius azureus. Export and research permits are issued by the Nature Conservation Division, a department of the Ministry of Ground and Forest Management. Suriname has one of the highest forest covers (>90%) and one of the lowest deforestation rates in the world (FAO, 2000). This means that all species with a wide distribution in Suriname will not easily become threatened. Most of the spe- cies occur in one or more of the protected areas that cover more than 12% of the surface area of Suriname (see fig. 308). Of the 107 taxa treated here, only 25 are not known to occur in a protected area. This means that 77% of the taxa occur in one or more of the protected areas. Fig. 309 shows the distribution of amphibians over the various protected areas. Some protected areas are not listed because no data are available. Other areas, like the coastal Multiple-use Management Areas (MUMA’s), Galibi Nature Reserve and Brinckheuvel Nature Reserve were never surveyed for amphibians. For instance for the Brinckheuvel Nature Reserve only one species is listed, while for the neighboring, not protected Gros-Rosebel area 48 species are known to date. The comparison is valid for the remaining areas that were surveyed for amphibians several times. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve is by far the largest area and has most amphibians, almost half of all spe- cies occurring in Suriname. However, also the tiny Brownsberg Nature Park har- bors a lot of species (44%), while the Boven Coesewijne and Sipaliwini nature reserves are especially important for savanna species. Thirty four species are extremely rare, and known only from five or less locali- ties or specimens (tab. 10). Rare species may be vulnerable. However, from the listing of table 10, we should exclude introduced species, which is self-explaining, but also species that are extremely difficult to find because of their niche, i.e. cryp- tic and fossorial species and canopy dwellers, because it is likely that their rare- ness is an artifact of poor sampling results. The number of species remaining is 19. Of this group the distribution of 6 species includes at least one protected area, leaving 13 species that are extremely rare or have a very limited distribution and are not protected in Suriname. If we look at threats for the 34 species that are rare, these are mining, the con- struction of hydro-electric reservoirs, savanna burning, land degradation, the pet trade and sea-level rise (tab. 10). The three last mentioned threats are of minor importance. Savanna burning may impact 3 species living in savannas or forest islands in savannas. However, all three species occur in one or two of the pro- tected areas. A large hydro-electric reservoir is planned in western Suriname and smaller ones in the southeast. The 4 species that occur in an area projected to 342 Existing protected areas: 1. Hertenrits Nature Reserve (100 ha, establ. 1972) 2. Coppename Monding Nature Reserve (12,00 ha, estab. 1953/1961) 3. Wia Wia Nature Reserve (36,000 ha, establ. 1961) 4. Galibi Nature Reserve (4,000 ha, establ. 1969) 5. Peruvia Nature Reserve (31,000 ha, establ. 1986) 6. Boven Coesewijne Nature Reserve (27,000 ha, establ. 1 986) 7. Copi Nature Reserve (18,000 ha, establ. 1986) 8. Wane Kreek Nature Reserve (45,000 ha, establ. 1986) 9. Brinckheuvel Nature Reserve (6,000 ha, establ. 1961) 10. Brownsberg Nature Park (8,400 ha, establ. 1969) 11. Centraal Suriname Nature Reserve (1,600,000 ha, establ. 1998) 12. Sipaliwini Nature Reserve (100,000 ha, establ. 1972) 13. Bigi Pan Multiple-Use Management Area (68,300 ha, establ. 1987) 14. Noord Coronie Managed Resource Protected Area (15,000 ha, establ. 2001) 15. Noord Saramacca Managed Resource Protected Area (83,000 ha, establ. 2001) 16. Noord Commewijne Managed Resource Protected Area (65,000 ha, establ. 2002) Proposed protected areas: 17. Kaboeri Kreek Nature Reserve (68,000 ha) 18. Nani Nature Reserve (54,000 ha) 19. Mac Clemen Forest Reserve (12,000 ha) 20. Snake Kreek Forest Reserve (3,000 ha) Fig. 308 Protected areas of Suriname..