The Central Suriname Nature Reserve (Dutch: Centraal Suriname Natuurreservaat (CSNR)) is a protected area in Suriname. It helps protect a large area of tropical rainforest. The reserve is in excellent condition.

History

The Central Suriname Nature Reserve was formed in 1998 by Conservation International and the government of Suriname by joining three existing nature reserves: Ralleighvallen, Tafelberg, and Eilerts de Haan gebergte. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 because of its untouched tropical rainforest ecosystem.

The forest received financial assistance from Jeff Harbers, a co-founder of Microsoft.

Environment

The reserve is located in the Guianan moist forests region. It covers 16,000 square kilometers (6,200 square miles) of mountain and lowland tropical forests that remain in their natural state, including parts of the Guyana Highlands.

The area is home to rapids and many bird species, such as the Guiana Cock of the Rock (Rupicola rupicola). Over 5,000 different plant species have been identified, along with large animals like jaguars, giant armadillos, and eight types of primates. A research station is located at the base of Voltzberg, and the area is a popular tourist destination.

Some of the most notable features in the Central Suriname Nature Reserve are granite domes—large granite rocks that rise above the surrounding rainforest. The dark-colored granite surfaces are exposed to sunlight, creating a unique dry habitat that supports special plant species. The best-known granite dome is Voltzberg, which is 245 meters high.

Other attractions include Julianatop (1,230 meters), the highest mountain in Suriname; Tafelberg (Table Mountain, 1,026 meters); Hendriktop (908 meters); Van Stockumberg (360 meters); and Duivelsei (Devil’s Egg), a rock that appears to balance on the edge of a mountain.

The Eilerts de Haan Mountains are named after Johannes Gijsbert Willem Jacobus Eilerts de Haan, an explorer who died in Suriname’s interior.

Conservation

Conservation International Suriname (CI-Suriname) helps with planning and managing protected areas in the reserve. The Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring (TEAM) network has conducted consistent camera-trap surveys. These surveys are used in scientific studies reviewed by experts to analyze tropical forest mammal communities and changes in biodiversity within protected areas.