The Coppename Monding Nature Reserve ( Dutch: Natuurreservaat Coppenamemonding) is a

protected area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewood ...

and nature reserve in

Suriname Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a country in northern South America, also considered as part of the Caribbean and the West Indies. It is a developing country with a Human Development Index, high level of human development; i ...

. The reserve is located near the mouth of the Coppename River. The reserve measures 12,000 hectares, and has been a protected area since 1961. This

wetland A wetland is a distinct semi-aquatic ecosystem whose groundcovers are flooded or saturated in water, either permanently, for years or decades, or only seasonally. Flooding results in oxygen-poor ( anoxic) processes taking place, especially ...

s area is an important habitat for breeding birds, and attracts

heron Herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 75 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genus ''Botaurus'' are referred to as bi ...

s, scarlet ibises, and

semipalmated sandpiper The semipalmated sandpiper (''Calidris pusilla'') is a very small shorebird. The genus name is from Ancient Greek ''kalidris'' or ''skalidris'', a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific ''pusilla'' is Latin f ...

s. Almost 400,000 birds were counted during a survey in 2004. The reserve has been placed on the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance on 22 July 1985.

Overview

The estuary of the Coppename River was listed on the Police Penal Code of 1915 as an area of special interest. In 1953, it became a game sanctuary, and in 1961, it became a protected area under the Nature Preservation Law. Coppename Monding consists of

mangrove A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows mainly in coastal saline water, saline or brackish water. Mangroves grow in an equatorial climate, typically along coastlines and tidal rivers. They have particular adaptations to take in extra oxygen a ...

forests and mudflats, and is important for

waterfowl Anseriformes is an order of birds also known as waterfowl that comprises about 180 living species of birds in three families: Anhimidae (three species of screamers), Anseranatidae (the magpie goose), and Anatidae, the largest family, which i ...

s and migratory birds. It consists of about 50 kilometres of coast. The southern part of the reserve contains grass swamps. The reserve is managed by (Stichting Natuurbehoud Suriname).

Accessibility

The reserve is a restricted area, and can be accessed by boat from the village of Boskamp.

References

Bibliography

*{{cite web, last1=Ouboter, first1=Paul E., year=2001 , url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262972705_Directory_of_protected_areas_of_Suriname , title=Directory of protected areas of Suriname, publisher=IBER Nature reserves in Suriname Ramsar sites in Suriname Saramacca District Protected areas of Suriname