Parrot Rangers at sunrise counting parrots in a farm area near their village, October 2024
For the last two years, One Earth Conservation has partnered with the indigenous village of Kalebaskreek to help them protect their parrots and investigate the possibility of developing an ecotourism program there. After many training sessions and trips, and hours and hours in the field, the village now has a competent team of Parrot Rangers that can monitor the population and nests, and protect the birds from trapping.
The Parrot Rangers face challenges with this because in Suriname it is legal to trap and export parrots. Their goal is to work with the government to not issue licenses to trappers to extract parrots from their community lands. They then will try to extend this community-based conservation effort to neighboring communities so that an entire habitat is protected. .
Parrot conference in Paramaribo, Suriname with the sign to be posted at Kalebaskreek, October 2024
The villagers presented their project and petition to various stakeholders and government authorities at a Parrot Conference in early October. Galvanized perhaps by apparent support and a steady presence in the village by One Earth and our NGO partners, Wildlife and People Suriname, the village then decided a few days after the conference to prohibit hunting and trapping, not just of parrots which they have done in the last 2 years, but of all birds in their territory, and to start an ecotourism project. This is a monumental step, because the village historically and culturally has engaged in hunting for subsistence as well as a business.
Parrot rangers counting in Kalebaskreek at the soccer field as a storm approaches
One village alone cannot protect the parrots in their region or in Suriname. They need their NGO partners, funders to OEC for Suriname such as the US Embassy in Suriname, Lush, and Global Giving, and government engagement. They also need international support and you. You can make a difference to the parrots and people of Suriname by donating your resources, and also by taking part in a pilot ecotourism trip to the village in 2025. This will be in the format of the parrot pilgrimage we do in Nicaragua. For the truly adventurous we can also visit the Parakeet Rangers of Guyana to see the Sun Parakeets.
The US Embassy in Suriname visits Batavia, a pilgrimage site that the Parrot Rangers would like to show you
Thank you for your help and interest!
Sunset on the Coppename River near Kalebaskreek, Suriname
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