COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SURINAME SURINAME PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES OF SURINAME (COUNTRY REPORT) Paramaribo January 2009 Patricia Y. Milton Agronomist / Seed Technologist Paramaribo Suriname 2 E-mail: [email protected] Note by FAO This Country Report has been prepared by the national authorities in the context of the preparatory process for the Second Report on the State of World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The Report is being made available by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as requested by the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. However, the report is solely the responsibility of the national authorities. The information in this report has not been verified by FAO, and the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views or policy of FAO. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of FAO. CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE SURINAME AND ITS AGRICULTURAL SECTOR 9 1.1 Geography 9 1.2 General information about Suriname 9 1.3 Climate and geomorphologic land division 10 1.4 Brief description of the agricultural sector of Suriname 11 1.5 Food security 13 CHAPTER 2 THE STATE OF DIVERSITY 15 2.1 Agricultural plant genetic resources 15 2.2 Indigenous plant genetic resources 15 CHAPTER 3 POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR MANAGEMENT OF GENETIC RESOURCES 17 CHAPTER 4 THE STATE OF IN SITU MANAGEMENT !8 4.1 Forest genetic resources 18 4.2 Conservation in protected areas 18 4.3 Inventories 20 CHAPTER 5 THE STATE OF EX SITU MANAGEMENT 21 5.1 General information on ex situ management in Suriname 21 5.2 Rice germplasm management at the Rice Research Station, ADRON 22 5.2.1 Collection, introduction and exchange of germplasm 22 5.2.2 Characterization 22 5.2.3 Evaluation 23 5.2.4 Description 23 5.2.5 Conservation 23 5.2.6 Organisation of ADRON’s genetic resources 24 5.2.7 Management 24 5.2.8 Accessibility of data 24 5.3 On-farm conservation 25 5.4 Botanical garden 25 5.5 Germplasm management in the CARICOM region 25 CHAPTER 6 THE STATE OF USE 26 6.1 Use of genetic material in the horticultural and agricultural sector 26 6.2 Use of genetic material for medicinal purposes 26 6.3 Use of crop species as ornamentals 26 6.4 Conservation as integral part of sustainable development in Suriname 27 6.5 Trade in wild flora and fauna 28 CHAPTER 7 THE STATE OF NATIONAL PROGRAMMES, TRAINING AND LEGISLATION 29 7.1 National Programmes 29 7.2 Training 30 7.3 Legislation 30 CHAPTER 8 THE STATE OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION 35 CHAPTER 9 ACCESS TO PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES AND SHARING OF BENEFITS ARISING OUT OF THEIR USE, AND FARMERS’ RIGHTS 37 CHAPTER 10 THE CONTRIBUTION OF PGRFA MANAGEMENT TO FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 38 CHAPTER 11 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 39 REFERENCES 41 APPENDIX 1 AREA AND PRODUCTION OF PADDY 43 APPENDIX 2 RICE EXPORT DATA OVER THE PERIOD 2004 – 2007 44 APPENDIX 3 AREA PLANTED AND YIELD OF VEGETABLES 46 APPENDIX 4 AMOUNT AND VALUE OF VEGETABLES EXPORTED 47 APPENDIX 5 AMOUNT EXPORTED AND EXPORT VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES 48 APPENDIX 6 LIST OF PLANT SPECIES COLLECTIONS (WEEDS, MEDICINAL PLANTS) AT THE WEED SCIENCE DIVISION OF THE MAAHF (Muller, 2004) 49 APPENDIX 7 OVERVIEW OF COLLECTIONS AT THE EXPERIMENTAL GARDENS, DIRKSHOOP (DH) AND LA POULE (PO) (SARAMACCA DISTRICT) PER JANUARY 2009 (RAMAUTAR, 2009) 50 APPENDIX 8 LIST OF COMMERCIAL FORESTRY WOOD SPECIES (Goedhar, 1996) 52 APPENDIX 9 VOVERVIEW OF THE BIOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS IN SURINAME (Muller, 2004) 54 APPENDIX 10 PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE NUMBER OF PLANT SPECIES ORDERED BY PRODUCTS AND USES (Werkhoven, 1995) 55 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report portrays a detailed evaluation on the current situation with regard to conservation, sustainable use and development of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in Suriname. It reflects the capacity needs and constraints related to the current contribution of plant genetic resources to food and agriculture in Suriname Currently there is no coherent national policy regarding the management of plant genetic resources in Suriname. For agronomic and horticultural crops there are no coordinated national programmes in Suriname with focus on well-organized plant genetic resources activities. For these crops elements related to plant genetic resources exist, but linkages between these elements is lacking. Different organizations conduct conservation activities to a certain extent. However, these activities do not occur according to standard protocols and procedures. With regards to forestry species, however, the Government of Suriname has a long-standing commitment to nature preservation and biodiversity conservation. Forest genetic resources comprise timber species, medicinal plants and other non-timber species. The Suriname Forest Service gives high priority to conservation and sustainable management of natural resources. Suriname’s strong tradition of nature conservation with regard to forestry crops, its protection of biodiversity and its preservation of primary tropical forest is indicated by a nature conservation system comprising 13 protected areas, ranging from 100 to 1 600 000 ha, covering about 12% of the total land surface. These protected areas encompass a wide range of ecosystems, from tropical forests to coastal formations, making Suriname’s nature conservation system one of the most representative in South America. Several organizations are either responsible for or managing genetic resources: The Research Department of The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (MAAHF), the Suriname Forestry Service, two national institutions of the Anton de Kom (ADEK) University of Suriname (the National Herbarium Suriname and the National Zoological Collection Suriname), Conservation International - the Amazon Conservation Team and The Anne van Dijk Rice Research Institute (ADRON). Suriname’s knowledge on genetic resources is best known for the coastal plain and savannah belt. Collections are scarce and the situation regarding the conservation of agricultural crops is miserable. Conservation is constrained by the lack of financial means and human capacity. Except for rice, seed production practices re inadequate, Not well regulated import of new varieties, lack of proper testing by the MAAHF or other research institutes (except for ADRON), bad storage facilities, and no conservation programmes may result in loss of valuable genetic resources. Regulations regarding management of genetic resources can be found scattered in several laws and other parts of legislation. Suriname has not yet passed specific legislation regulating Farmers’ Rights with respect to sharing of benefits deriving from PGR. There are restrictions to entry of Plant Genetic Resources. The Plant Quarantine Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries is the regulatory body that ensures the safety of planting materials coming into Suriname. Prior to the import of plants, plant parts, and seed approval is needed from the Plant Quarantine Division of the MAAHF. The threat for introduction of alien invasive species is great, especially in the interior, where hardly anything is known about our genetic resources, and the fact that there is poor control at the borders (rivers, south). The quarantine service at airports (Zanderij, Zorg en Hoop) and the harbour is weak. Knowledge on impacts of alien invasive species is inadequate, except for the impact of pests on agricultural crops. Much information regarding Suriname’s biodiversity exists outside the country (Utrecht, USA). Over the past years the situation has improved somewhat, since many expeditions and surveys are now conducted in close cooperation with local institutes (University of Suriname, MNR, MAAHF). Databases hardly exist for genetic resources. NZCS and NHS have a relatively well organized database. Most of the ministries do not have a database at all, or it is not updated. The Rice Research Station, ADRON, also has a Database system for rice lines and varieties. Suriname is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity – CBD (1992), and consequently benefits from the international agreement with respect to access of genetic resources and sharing of benefits arising out of their use. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) is related to access and benefit- sharing regarding plant genetic material for food and agriculture. There is a direct link between the CBD and the ITPGRFA. 7 SURINAME Suriname still needs to sign the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR). The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Environment, Technological Development and Labour are mutually responsible for undertaking actions to sign the agreement on the ITPGRFA. In brief it may be stated that in Suriname systemic germplasm management is lacking. Aspects that are important for adequate germplasm management include: t availability of funds; t awareness about the importance of germplasm management; t adequate policy to ensure that PGR becomes an fundamental part of agricultural programmes t knowledge regarding germplasm management; t adequate facilities; t a well coordinated national and regional system. All the listed aspects for adequate germplasm management are limited in Suriname.