Geo Quiz

South American nature reserve

By The World ⋅ September 2, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment
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The Van der Wijk top rises 1,500 ft above pristine forests (Photo: John Martin, Conservation International)

Here are three facts that will help you name today’s geo quiz destination:

It’s the smallest independent nation in South America, it has the highest percentage of rainforest cover on earth, and Dutch is the official language. Now — a bit of history:

This country was once ruled by the Dutch, who got it from the British, in exchange for the colony of New Netherlands, now known as… New York.

This country, by the way, only gained its independence from the Netherlands in 1975. There’s a lot of unspoiled real estate there – forests and mountains where few – if any – have gone before. One team of scientists recently made a trek deep into the country’s rainforest to climb a couple of very remote mountains.

So where is this small, Dutch-speaking, very green country?

Geo Answer:

Suriname's President Desi Bouterse meets with Dr. Mittermeier (Photo: John Martin, Conservation International)

The answer is Suriname in South America. Russell Mittermeier was just there. He’s a primatologist and president of the group “Conservation International.” Mittermeier’s been exploring Suriname’s forests for 35 years.

And on his most recent visit he led a team deep into the Central Suriname Nature Reserve. The one-week trek involved carrying boats and gear through the forest, rowing up rapids and rivers, and finally, climbing a mountain that Mittermeier says no human being had climbed in recorded history.

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Discussion

2 comments for “South American nature reserve”

  • http://www.yasminnair.net/ Yasmin Nair

    Russell Mittermeier claims to have scaled a peak “no human being had climbed in recorded history.”

    According to whom? Whose recorded history? And who decides what counts as “recorded history?”

    The interviewer was right to at question Mittermeier plans for opening up Suriname’s forests to tourists – a peculiar suggestion coming from someone representing a group called “Conservation International.” I do wish the interviewer had also pressed on Mittermier’s claim that he was the first to undertake the climb. PRI does a lot of good reporting but is often blind to the Western biases of its interviewees – and its own.

    I see that the group emphasizes economic development “to help move whole societies toward a smarter development path.” I would like to know what, exactly, that kind of economic development entails. Its corporate partners include Fiji Water and Walmart – not exactly well known for their responsible practices vis-a-vis the environment.

    All you had to do was ask before the interview.

  • Tony Henneberg

    I have been to this area several times, and paddled down a creek about 10 miles north of Van der Wijk top during my last visit. The wildlife is extraordinary. It is rare to find and area where one can’t see or hear any evidence of humanity, and I hope that whatever tourism development takes place is planned very carefully. Suriname has an active wild bird trade, it would be a pity to facilitate this activity with easy access to these pristine areas.