The d’ONS Foundation stands for sustainable development in Suriname. d’ONS connects project requests in the field of sustainable development to knowledge and experience in the Netherlands. Ecotourism, water, sustainable products, forestry and sustainable energy sectors have been identified by d’ONS as potential sectors for sustainable development. The d’ONS Foundation is at the heart of the Dutch and Surinamese society. Via internships, d’ONS enables students to learn and participate with life in Suriname. In that context, the foundation has since the beginning of September 2011 become a recognized work placement company for HBO and MBO students.
Background
d'ONS has been established in 2006. Since 2007, it has been consistently organizing seminars and workshops for the eco-tourism, solar energy, fruit farming, water (gold mining) and forestry sectors. From 2008 the foundation also carries out concrete projects with partners from the Netherlands and Suriname.
In March 2015 the d’ONS and the country's Forest Management (LBB) from Suriname, launched a pilot project for volunteers, in addition to the regular game wardens, to protect the sea turtles on the beach of the vulnerable Matapica Wetlands. For years this saw large-scale robbery of turtle eggs in the area for commercial fishing and consumption. In the past 20 years the number of adult females to estimate to less than 30,000. During the pilot, 30 volunteers signed up for training to assistant game wardens. They have performed their tasks with great enthusiasm.
With the arrival of the students, supervision management needed improval. Permanent physical presence of staff was needed; therefore, a digital Volunteer Centre for 2015-2020 was essential. A master project at the Anton de Kom University (ADEK) started to provide permanent volunteers, who helped to provide additional management of the vulnerable Matapica area. An awareness campaign with an elementary school in Matapica area made clear to the community, that eggs robbery and consumption of turtle eggs are by no means ways to earn honest money.
Turtle Watch Matapica (2016)
Because of the bad economy in Suriname in 2016, gamekeepers often were assigned other tasks, at the expense of their ranger work to protect the sea turtles. This was a disastrous situation! With help of volunteers the monitoring was on an acceptable level at Braamspunt beach and they kept the egg robbers away. Volunteers were enthusiastic about the "Turtle Watch" programme and have learned a lot from this project. For 2017 the majority of the volunteers wanted to participate again in the Turtle Watch program. The guidance and coaching of gamekeepers and seasonal workers in the field were good according to the volunteers. In the 2017, Turtle Watch sanitation was installed at the mobile field station. Also, electricity, heat protection and awareness of conservation of sea turtles got a greater role, through primary education, were included.
Permanent surveillance of the beach (2019)
As a follow up of previous funding requests from Stichting d’ONS in the past, the NGO received funding to ensure the proper supervision of the beach, and to appoint a local project manager recruited by d'ONS in addition to the project leader in the Netherlands.
The local project manager must radiate authority, stand above and between the cooperating parties and be an accessible point of contact for the patrols and volunteers on the beach. The local project manager is in close contact with d’ONS foundation and the Surinam Natuur Beheer ministry.
To stimulate the motivation of the anti-hunting protectors from Natuur Beheer, a bonus was made available to top off their meagre salary. An amount of € 5 per rescued was paid, after the nesting season. The anti-hunting protectors also received an attendance payment per day present.
To reach their goals and to extend the program, Stichting de Boomgaard donated EUR 32.000.
