The Sipaliwini Savanna is a

protected area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...

and nature reserve in

Suriname Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north ...

. The reserve is located to the south of the Sipaliwini River in the far south of the country. The reserve measures 100,000 hectares, and has been a protected area since 1972. The majority of the reserve consists of a

savannah A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the Canopy (forest), canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to rea ...

which in turn is a continuation of the

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

ian Tumucumaque Mountains National Park. The reserve is in pristine condition with almost no human habitation.

History

The area was first explored in October 1935 by A.J.H. van Lynden who was surprised to discover an immense savannah behind the dense rain forests. In 1962, a study was started whether the savannah could be used for

animal husbandry Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with animals that are raised for meat, fibre, milk, or other products. It includes day-to-day care, selective breeding, and the raising of livestock. Husbandry has a long history, starti ...

, however the transport costs via

airplane An airplane or aeroplane (informally plane) is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and wing configurations. The broad spe ...

would make the enterprise unprofitable. A detailed study into the plant and animal life commenced in 1968. This reserve is one of the last frontiers in the tropics, and relatively little is known about the region.

Overview

The savannah consists of large grasslands with wetter islands of trees. Bird life is abundant, and the savannah is where the

blue poison dart frog The blue poison dart frog or blue poison arrow frog (''Dendrobates tinctorius "azureus"'') is a poison dart frog found in the forests surrounded by the Sipaliwini Savanna, which is located in southern Suriname (known in Surinamese Dutch and adja ...

was discovered in 1969. In 2005, six birds that had never been recorded in Suriname were seen on the reserve. It includes a new species of sun parakeet, and a new rufous-sided scrub tyrant. The savannah is home to the

harpy eagle The harpy eagle (''Harpia harpyja'') is a neotropical species of eagle. It is also called the American harpy eagle to distinguish it from the Papuan eagle, which is sometimes known as the New Guinea harpy eagle or Papuan harpy eagle. It is the ...

and the

jaguar The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus '' Panthera'' native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the largest cat species in the Americas and the th ...

Accessibility

The Sipaliwini Savanna is very hard to reach. The

Sipaliwini Airstrip Sipaliwini Airstrip , near the village of Sipaliwini Savanna, in the most southern part of Suriname in the Sipaliwini District. It was constructed as part of Operation Grasshopper and the runway of the airstrip was publicly opened in 1962. The ma ...

is accessible by small planes. From the airstrip, it takes another 2 to 3 hour to reach the reserve along trials, or a canoe journey along the Sipaliwini River. Permission to enter the territory has to be obtained from the ''

granman Granman (Ndyuka language: ''gaanman'') is the title of the paramount chief of a Maroon (people), Maroon nation in Suriname and French Guiana. The Ndyuka people, Ndyuka, Saramaka, Matawai people, Matawai, Aluku, Paramaccan people, Paramaka and Kwint ...

'' (tribal leader) who resides at Kwamalasamutu.

Threats

The reserve is not guarded. Poaching, and collecting of endangered species are a problem. Burning of the savannah by the Amerindians is also a problem.

References

Bibliography

External links

Website about the plants at Sipaliwini Savanna
* {{Nature reserves of Suriname Nature reserves in Suriname Protected areas of Suriname Sipaliwini District Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Guianan savanna