Princess Ramada Hotel Paramaribo, Suriname September11, /14/2015 1

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1 Princess Ramada Hotel Paramaribo, Suriname September11, /14/2015 1

2 The First National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF) The First National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF) will function as an important platform in facilitating national dialogue regarding climate and dissemination of climate information to stakeholders. Agriculture plays an important role in Suriname regarding: - Food security - Nutrition and Health - And Poverty reduction Climate variability and change will impact al key sectors of the economy that support sustainable development including Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Aquaculture and Fisheries and Forestry. Therefore this forum will indirectly support the sustainable development of the before mentioned sectors. 9/14/2015 2

3 Temperature: Regional Climate Model (RCM) projections indicate an increase of 4.8 C by the 2080s under the higher emissions scenario Precipitation: GCMs indicate overall increases and decreases, ranging from -61% to +19% per month by 2080, while RCMs are indicating decreases in mean annual rainfall by -34%. Sea Surface Temperatures (SST): GCMs project annual mean SST increases of 1.0 to 3.1 C by 2080s across all 3 scenarios 9/14/2015 3

4 The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries aims to make Suriname the main supplier of the basic foods consumed in the Caribbean and the policy focuses on guaranteeing food security within the country, increasing the income of small and mediumscale producers, increasing the contribution of agriculture to the domestic economy and developing a sustainable sector 9/14/2015 4

5 The agricultural sector is an important component of Suriname s national development Is an important contributor to GDP, employment, foreign exchange earnings and rural livelihoods. Agricultural output has grown consistently between 2002 and 2010, but activities are concentrated in the coastal zone and are therefore vulnerable to a number of climate change impacts. The primary crops are rice (87% of production and 96% of agricultural land), bananas, vegetables and fruit. Rice is highly vulnerable to unevenly distributed rainfall and bananas produced mainly in the coastal districts of Saramacca and Nickerie, are affected by changes in rainfall patterns and high winds 9/14/2015 5

6 Rice production is most vulnerable to climate change because of the geography of the farmed land as well as the impact that sea-level rise could have on water salinity in the rice fields. Higher temperatures are usually associated with sterility in rice flowers, which would then produce no grain. A 1 C increase in temperature is expected to decrease rice yields by 10%. Changes in growing conditions are expected to result in increased weed and pest infestation. The intensity and frequency of droughts are predicted to increase in rice growing areas, and drought could extend further into irrigated areas and thereby reduce yields. 9/14/2015 6

7 Cultivation of drought-tolerant, high-yielding rice varieties Cultivation of salt-tolerant, high yielding rice varieties Rehabilitation of selected drainage and irrigation schemes Improvements in in-field drainage systems 9/14/2015 7

8 Farmers from the Saramacca district are: experiencing loss of fertile land. noticing that the seasons are no longer the same as they were having too much water or too little or too much salt water in their agricultural fields as results of the dry and wet seasons. Coping with crop loss and reduced income Fifty percent of the production potential has disappeared 9/14/2015 8

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10 The forest is a critical resource for food security and supporting livelihoods (craft, sale of produce and meat) Changes in temperature and rainfall are reducing crop output, affecting river quality and freshwater availability In the 2006 floods, craft materials and crops were lost - resulting in food shortages Village ancestors built on higher ground and also avoided low lying areas Now this is not the case 9/14/

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12 In 2006 flooding caused estimated crop losses of SRD $42,238,703(approximately USD 13 million). Cassava, the food staple of the majority of the agricultural communities in the interior, incurred the most damage (SR $20,698,768, approximately USD 6.4million). F Figure 1: Cassave field at kwamalasamutu 9/14/

13 Both flooding and drought events have impacted the community in the past mostly through socio-economic impacts such as livelihood losses and food security rather than direct impacts on property Heavy rains adversely affect the mobility of persons and their trade resulting in economic losses for households. Mosquito populations are now significantly greater during the dry season compared to previous years 9/14/

14 Experience with Farmers of Matta (Para), Njun Lombe (Brokopondo), Pamboko (Sipaliwini), and Ricanau Mofo (Marowijne) The traditional management of cultivation systems has been disturbed over past five (5) years, because of the pattern in the seasons (Wet Dry) has been changing 9/14/

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16 During the first stage of development of a new farming field, the period of the long dry season and the short dry season is very important to have a good burning quality of the cut open forest effects include : Low burning quality of the farming plot More labor is needed to clean the material that is not burnt The quality of the dispersion of the ash (nutrient for the growth of the crops) is less Quick Infestation of grasses and weeds 9/14/

17 Farmers follow the pattern of the nature in choosing a farming plot on the higher sites or the lower sites of the forest In the Ricanau mofo village, along the Cottica River, the farmer s management was to cut open a farming plot every five (5) years at a higher part of the forest. Because they are aware of flooding, now a days they observed that the flooding comes already every two (2) years: They are changing their management now to select as much as possible higher land in the forest, with the following effect: Invest more in labor to transport the products 9/14/

18 The effects of short intensive rainfall on the crop production include: Loss of the available organic matter by erosion and leaching Development of grasses and weeds Decreasing of crop production because of high soil temperature and competition for space and nutrient with the grasses and weeds 9/14/

19 Loss of the available organic matter by erosion and leaching Development of grasses and herbs Decreased crop production because of high soil temperature and competition for space and nutrient with the grasses and weeds 9/14/

20 In Suriname, the fisheries subsector comprises three activities: marine fisheries, inland fisheries, and aquaculture. Industrial fishing dominates the export market, which is mainly based on shrimp, while artisanal and inland fisheries produce for the domestic market The industrial fisheries consist of trawlers, a few fish/shrimp processing plants, and a number of ice and freezing facilities which service these fisheries activities 9/14/

21 Small-scale fisheries are not only an important source of food, in both rural and urban areas, but have become an important source of employment, income and foreign-exchange earnings Aquaculture has been constrained by the unavailability of finance, limited technical skills and technology, and little research and development. Aquaculture has been identified by the Government as an important activity which is supported by number of incentives 9/14/

22 There has been no specific study on the effects of climate change on the fisheries sector in Suriname. However, Climate change can eventually lead to several scenarios: Warming of the Atlantic Ocean, rivers and inland waters. Higher water temperature will lead to de-oxygenation of water and for example leading to an increase in the loss of shrimp and affecting reproduction and growth of fish and other aquatic species Higher water temperatures will also lead to migration of fish stocks Rise of sea level that can alter water quality: Water salinity and ocean acidity 9/14/

23 An increase in rainfall will lead to an increase in supply of nutrients which will foster improved off shore marine production systems The larger volume of mud, sediments and land-based pollutants transported by rivers after severe rainfall will reach shore, can also disrupt the ecology on the coast and reduce the visibility of the water 9/14/

24 Climate change can induce stress factors that will lead to outbreak of diseases and impacting biodiversity Extreme weather will increase uncertainties in the supply of fish from capture fisheries and aquaculture 9/14/

25 Measures dealing with direct impacts of climate change on fisheries stocks relevant for Suriname include: Monitoring fish catch and effort data Developing a Fisheries Management Plan Conduct research to aid and support sustainable fisheries management goals Monitoring socio-economic status of fishers in coastal communities Encourage involvement in non-fisheries related (tourism) economic activity Assess vulnerability of coastal communities to climate change impact, determine the suitability of current structure and construct new infrastructure 9/14/

26 . In Suriname, forests occupy approximately 80% of the country. These forested areas are habitat to a wide range of animal and plant species, some yet to be identified and documented Additionally, the forests prevent soil erosion, purify water supplies and ensure environmental stability The forest resources provide for commercial exploitation of wood and related by-products However, if Suriname were to exploit the forests unsustainably, there would be negative effects world-wide. Any such deforestation is likely to have very serious negative consequences internationally for biodiversity, water regulation and carbon sequestration The Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) focuses on the pristine forests of Suriname which are the country s most valuable natural assets. The standing forest can provide substantial volumes of timber and can be used for post-harvest agriculture 9/14/

27 Need for conducting studies using different models for temperature projections and vegetation shifts, in the interior region to reveal: soil fertility status areas likely to be impacted from severe reduction in annual rainfall and the area/areas likely to receive less annual rainfall overall areas likely to be affected by high temperature increases, and the area/areas likely to receive overall high temperatures areas likely to be significantly affected by a reduction in biomass (shift in vegetation type) 9/14/

28 A structured program for climate change sensitization and adaptation training is needed to improve and increase national agricultural outputs in accordance with the agricultural policy 9/14/

29 Seek funding to maximize benefits within the agricultural sector improve access to loan/grant funding to domestic crop producers raise awareness of the potential impacts of climate change on the agricultural, fisheries, for the forestry sector, food security and cultural practices review approaches to integrated cropping and management systems under climate change 9/14/

30 Develop an Agro-technology and Climate Change project that builds Surinamese farmers capacity to grow produce using good agricultural practices and introduces new technologies that will improve the quality and yield of their crops Research in vegetables/fruits, roots & tubers research requires that the locally-based agricultural research institutions must examine management practices with the potential to raise the yield of vegetables/fruits, roots and tubers grown under local -climatic conditions 9/14/

31 Specifically, research agencies should investigate cultural practices that conserve water and protect staple crops such as cassava and vegetables from heavy rains, high temperatures and flooding Develop regional links to fund and promote plant and live stock breeding programs for common crops (plants, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture) support and fund research in increased water use efficiency across irrigated agriculture 9/14/

32 Support and expand funding for coastal zone management activities and other related initiatives initiate a Climate Change Working Group for Agriculture develop modeling approaches and tools to allow assessment of impacts of climate change on export and domestic crops including fish and meat production 9/14/

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