Explore the biodiverse ecosystems of Suriname through our video series “Forest Types of Suriname”, presented by Frits van Troon, a Saramacca Maroon biodiversity expert and tireless advocate for the protection of Suriname’s forests.
Mountain forests were defined in this project as any forest occurring at 500 meters (about 1640 ft) or higher. Mountainous landscapes generally exhibit a greater range of climatic and habitat variation compared to low, flat areas, resulting in more unique (endemic) plants and animals.
In this episode, Frits teaches us about the ecosystem, animals and tree identification within mountain forest on the plateau summit of Brownsberg Nature Park. Brownsberg is one of several mountain ranges (e.g., Brownsberg, Lely, Bakhuis) in northern Suriname with large bauxite (aluminum) deposits. Forests occurring on non-bauxite mountains (e.g., Tafelberg-sandstone, Voltzberg - granite) could not be included in this series.
Mountain forest ecosystems in Suriname face threats from small-scale mining (gold), large-scale mining (gold and bauxite), new roads and logging operations, and an increasing frequency and intensity of drought and flooding linked to human-caused climate change.
Read more in the “Forest Types of Suriname” manual found at this link: www.flipsnack.com/amazonteam/forest-types-of-suriname-mountain-forest/full-view.html