Central Suriname Nature Reserve

Sipaliwini District (Central Suriname), Suriname

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The Central Suriname Nature Reserve, located in the Sipaliwini District of Suriname, covers about 1.6 million hectares of pristine tropical rainforest and is part of the ancient Guiana Shield. Established in 1998 by merging three nature reserves, it protects the upper watersheds of major rivers such as the Coppename and Lucie.

The reserve features a mix of topography from lowland forests to mountainous areas, including notable granite domes like Voltzberg and Suriname's highest peak, Juliana Top at 1,230 meters. It is home to an exceptional diversity of plant species—over 5,000 vascular plants—and about 400 bird species including the Guiana cock-of-the-rock and harpy eagle. The area also supports mammals such as jaguars, giant armadillos, tapirs, giant river otters, and eight species of primates.

The reserve is internationally recognized for its ecological value and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, remaining an important refuge for biodiversity and a significant natural carbon store in the Amazon region.