The coastal region of Suriname is low-lying, flat and vulnerable for anticipated sea level rise and increasing storm frequencies. This area is also essential for agriculture, for fresh drink water from the sandy sediments and for human settlements. Managing such vulnerable and valuable environment requires in-depth understanding of governing processes and interactions steering the system. The coastal system is extremely complex: large mud supplies from the Amazone results in mud banks migrating along the coast influenced by complex wind patterns. These mud banks create opportunities for mangroves that in turn play an important role protecting the coast and for flora/fauna. Apart from natural dynamics, anthropogenic activities such as mangrove removal, sand mining and channel dredging result in ecosystem degradation. Sea level rise and increasing storminess may cause erosion and submersion of the coast. The project contributes to SDG13: Climate Action through developing an innovative, combined model simulating coastal dynamics accounting for interactions between mud banks, waves, winds and mangroves. The model will be used to explore impacts of climate change and human interference aiming at developing sustainable management solutions. Time-series of earth observation images will be analysed to map mangrove dynamics and mud bank migration. The project contributes to SDG4: Education by involving the Suriname University and create awareness by collaborating with local practitioners (WWF, CI, UNDP, WI). Results will profoundly impact longterm coastal protection by providing missing knowledge and innovative tools optimizing coastal management. Together with Wetlands International scalability of expertise to other mangrove coasts (Guianas, Asia) is anticipated.

• prof. dr. Gerben Ruessink
• dr. Pita Verweij
• Ginny Bijnaar MSc
• dr. Job de Vries MSc