Brazil's Conexsus, in partnership with Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) Suriname, is bringing an ecosystem approach to Suriname to strengthen Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and provide sustainable alternatives to destructive practices such as gold mining. This article highlights how this collaboration not only creates economic opportunities, but also protects the Amazon rainforest and the cultural richness of Indigenous and Maroon communities.
Conexsus: A Brazilian Success Story
Founded in 2018, Conexsus has a proven track record in Brazil in promoting a sustainable bioeconomy. By supporting local communities to produce cocoa, açaí and Brazil nuts, the organization has sustainably managed more than 34 million hectares of forest, provided 2.4 million loans to 210 communities and reached 20,000 producers. Loans worth $5 million have been provided through the Conexsus Impact Fund, while projects such as AmazonBeEco (launched in 2024) support 8,000 families and 400,000 acres of land. These successes have earned Conexsus international recognition, including awards from the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance and the Latin American Green Awards.
At the heart of Conexsus' approach is the creation of ecosystems: networks of partners, including banks, buyers and government agencies, that help CBOs with financing, marketing and capacity building. Instead of a traditional value chain, Conexsus builds a dynamic system that addresses small problems - such as lack of legal advice or market access - to promote success.
Conexsus in Suriname: A New Start
In Suriname, this model has been rolled out since 2021 under the leadership of ACT Suriname, with support from the Inter-American Development Bank. One example is the Asajakaweno cooperative in the Maroon village of Pierrekondre-Kumbasi, which grows and processes pineapples. During a recent workshop at the Queens Hotel, organized by ACT, Asajakaweno manager Claudia Maatsen identified bottlenecks such as financing and marketing. "We want to grow and get more exposure, but that requires funding and marketing," she said. The Conexsus ecosystem brings partners together to address these challenges.
The goal is twofold: economic growth for local communities and providing alternatives to gold mining, which threatens Suriname's rainforest with mercury pollution and social problems such as drugs and crime. By encouraging sustainable production, such as pineapple processing, Conexsus hopes to create jobs and reduce dependence on destructive industries.
ACT Suriname: Keeper of Forest and Culture
ACT Suriname, founded in 2002, plays a crucial role in this collaboration. With a mission to protect the Amazon rainforest by empowering Indigenous and Maroon communities, ACT combines traditional knowledge with modern techniques. The organization has mapped 10 million hectares of Indigenous and Maroon lands, supports 42 Amazon Conservation Rangers for forest monitoring, and manages five traditional medicine clinics through the "Shamans and Apprentices" program, which received global recognition from UNESCO and the World Bank.
ACT's work also includes ethno-education, such as Junior Park Ranger trainings and the Terrastories app, which records oral traditions, and sustainable food production to promote food sovereignty. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ACT, in partnership with UNICEF, supported 2,000 people in five villages with health care and education. The Amazonia 2.0 project is strengthening forest management in six Indigenous and ten Maroon communities, while ACT continues to advocate for legal recognition of Indigenous land rights - a pressing issue in our country , the only South American country without such legislation.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite the successes, Conexsus and ACT face challenges. In Suriname, illegal gold mining and recent government plans for large-scale agriculture threaten the rainforest. The absence of legal land rights for Indigenous peoples remains a stumbling block. Yet the Conexsus model offers hope: by addressing small issues such as access to credit or markets, CBOs can grow and contribute to forest conservation.
The collaboration between Conexsus and ACT in Suriname is an example of how international expertise and local knowledge can work together to create a sustainable future. Asajakaweno's ambition to scale up pineapple production and develop new products illustrates the potential. With ACT's coordination and Conexsus' ecosystem model, Suriname can become an example of how communities, forest and culture can flourish hand-in-hand.
Future Vision
Conexsus aims to unlock $200 million in investments in sustainable forest enterprises by 2030, while ACT continues to advocate for land rights and community-driven conservation. Together, they offer a blueprint for an economy that not only brings prosperity, but also protects the Amazon.
