The partners in this project aim to establish a publicly accessible national database for the flora and fauna of Suriname. Given the country's status as a hotspot for the Guiana Shield and the Caribbean, information about its biodiversity attracts global, regional and national interest from both scientific and pharmaceutical researchers.
The partners expect to assemble and share biodiversity data on
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Invasive and alien species
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Potentially threatened species in production areas for non-timber forest products
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Weeds in rice fields
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Commercial tree species
The project will benefit the country's policy makers, who are currently mobilizing stakeholders to focus on the Convention on Biological Diversity's Aichi Targets. Access to digital biodiversity data will improve the dissemination of information on species, ecosystems, genetic resources and scientific knowledge generally, advancing Suriname's national progress toward targets 5, 6, 7, 9, 12 and 19. Researchers should also see improvements in their ability to monitor changes in biodiversity, rather than having their efforts hindered by estimates and insufficient knowledge.
