Material Innovations

rainforest treasures

A genius loci is understood to be the protective spirit of a place.

A service that embodies this idea in particular is the popular form of travel referred to as ECOTOURISM. This mode of exploration is generally a low-impact, small-scale way to visit fragile, and often protected environmental areas. The intention of this kind of travel is to share a specific region with outsiders, but to do it in such a way that educates travelers, provides funds for ecological conservation, and directly benefits the local people groups, and subsequently, local economies. Ecotourism strives to  promote knowledge of the beauty and uniqueness of particular areas, in hopes that visitors will be exposed to the necessity for conservation efforts to remain in place.

Central Suriname Nature Reserve

A prime example of  this occurs in the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, which has been placed under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Nature Reserve provides the perfect locale for ecotourism because of its natural abundance of different ecosystems and its biodiversity in general.”The nation offers traditional culture at its best, since two thirds of its area is still covered with rainforest—assets, which, if correctly managed, are extremely important in the development of Suriname.”

Amerindians

An essay about the development of ecotourism within Suriname states that the encouragement towards getting local peoples involved in ecotourism is working to “creat[e] an atmosphere whereby citizens in the interior (Amerindians & Maroons) are made aware of the guideline that ‘respect for yourself, respect for others, respect for your village, respect for your country,’ is very important.” By creating an economic system that allows for the unique and pristine rainforests of Suriname to be upheld, respected, and protected, the way of life for the peoples living in this region is also regarded as precious. The spirit of this place may remain intact if the necessary guidelines are brought into play, so that the unparalleled combination of unique people groups and untouched nature can be simultaneously appreciated, preserved, and supported by the outside world.

typical architecture within the Surinamese rainforest

Some of the guidelines for ecotourism within Suriname include:

• facilities for visitors must be set up in a traditional style using local materials

• tours must be for leisure and information on rainforest, flora, and fauna

• activities must be executed in such a way that the impact on nature and culture is minimized

a rare bird found within the rainforests of Suriname

The genius loci of Suriname’s rainforest involves the preservation of rare species like this bird called the Cinnamon Attila, and ecotourism aims to prevent the destruction of natural resources, like you can read about here.