PSYCHEDELIC PURPLE VERSUS THE LUSTER OF GOLD

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000303

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR LLUFTIG
OES/OMC FOR WGIBBONS-FLY
BRAZIL FOR HUB COORDINATOR JSTORY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS
SUBJECT: PSYCHEDELIC PURPLE VERSUS THE LUSTER OF GOLD


1. SUMMARY: The discovery of 24 new animal species by Surinamese and
American scientists, including a frog with psychedelic purple
markings, has given Suriname world-wide attention, as reported in
over 150 newspapers and journals. These articles have also
highlighted the threat to Suriname's highly diverse ecosystem from
mercury pollution caused by illegal gold mining. The study that led
to the discoveries was carried out by Conservation International
(CI) and was paid for, by bauxite mining companies Suralco and
BHP-Billiton, who are looking into the environmental impact of
mining in their concession area. Community conscious Suralco looks
to be a good corporate citizen, while illegal gold miners continue
to pollute the area. END SUMMARY

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24 NEW SPECIES OF WILDLIFE
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2. On June 4, CI scientists reported they had discovered 24 new
species of wildlife in the remote plateaus of eastern Suriname,
including a frog with fluorescent purple markings, other amphibians,
and fish and insects. The CI scientists had partnered with the major
two bauxite mining companies in Suriname, BHP-Billiton and Suralco,
who sought to understand potentially harmful impacts on the
environment from mining. In 2005, CI's Center for Applied
Biodiversity Science conducted a Rapid Assessment Program (RAP)
Expedition in the eastern mountains of Suriname. The report that RAP
leader Leeanne Alonso, Ph.D. presented to the Government of Suriname
(GOS) on June 4 details the invaluable biodiversity the team
discovered during its expedition. Alonso said, "This is a totally
unexplored area: lots of new species, with many more to be found.
Our study will be a vital component in determining how to promote
economic development in Suriname while protecting the nation's most
valuable natural assets."

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THREATENED BY MINING?
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3. CI-Suriname Executive Director Ambassador Wim Udenhout told
media, "Where current economic imperatives dictate mining, our
responsibility is to ensure that operations are kept within the
bounds of our benchmarks." In other words, it is imperative for
mining companies to understand potentially harmful impacts on the
environment. In his introductory remarks on June 4, Suralco's
Managing Director, Warren Pedersen, emphasized his company's
responsibility and respect for the environment. He noted that
neither mining companies, nor environmentalists, need be opponents;
good business and conservation can both be accomplished provided
they are managed "in the right way". The company is the largest
employer in Suriname and is known for its efforts to be a good
corporate citizen in Suriname, for example by providing humanitarian
assistance to the community. Still, while Suralco may be a
responsible player, Suriname's pristine forests are increasingly
threatened by small scale, illegal gold mining. The miners use
mercury to extract gold from soil, and it subsequently ends up in
the streams and rivers, degrading water quality and damaging fragile
ecosystems. Small scale gold mining has already affected two
unprotected plateaus surveyed during the RAP expedition, 80 miles
south of Suriname's capitol, Paramaribo.


4. COMMENT: With nearly 20 percent of the world's water running
through the region, there are few places like Suriname left in the
world. Suriname and its neighbors are home to the largest expanse
of undisturbed rain forest on the planet. The discovery of 24 new
species as reported on MSNBC, FOX, and the Associated Press, among
others, has probably given this obscure country more international
attention than it has received in years. Biologists and other
conservationists are flocking to the region.


5. COMMENT CONT'D: Suriname hopes that its rain forests (and what
lies beneath them) can fulfill two often contradictory tasks: remain
an international treasure generating eco-tourism dollars, while also
earning mining revenues through resource extraction. In order to
manage this balancing act, Suriname must not simply pay lip service
to conservation on the one hand, while tolerating illegal
environmentally unsustainable mining practices on the other.
Although Suriname's fluorescent purple frogs reached the world stage
thanks to CI's RAP report, Post doubts that the GOS has the
political will or the ability to protect them, should they have the
bad fortune to hop into an illegal gold mining operation. Post will
remain in contact with CI-Suriname to gauge its perspective and the
dynamics of mining and conservation in Suriname. END COMMENT

Schreiber Hughes