Decision for he Management Area North Commewijne/Marowijne.

This Decision provides for allocating the coastal strip between the Suriname and Marowijne rivers, north of the Commewijne and Cottica rivers, as defined in the attached annex and map, to the Ministry of Natural Resources for rational use and management, in compliance with international obligations. The Decision highlights the importance of the coastal strip, as: it contains extensive mangrove forests that are crucial as a natural sea defense; it is the natural habitat of swamp, estuarine, coastal, and sea fisheries, and certain species of sea fish and shrimp; it offers opportunities for aquaculture, beekeeping, large-scale livestock farming, and agriculture; it provides for protecting of sea turtles and ensures breeding ground for large coastal birds and as a feeding area for millions of migratory birds. The Decision analyses the following threats to the ecosystem of the coastal area: disruption of freshwater supply; increasing pollution of rivers and brackish swamps with oil, industrial wastewater, agricultural chemicals, organic waste and hazardous substances.