Sipaliwini | |
|---|---|
 Boys in a canoe on theGran Rio river | |
_(hatched).svg) Sipaliwini district inSuriname. | |
| Coordinates:3°47′N56°02′W / 3.783°N 56.033°W /3.783; -56.033 | |
| Country |  Suriname |
| Area | |
• Total | 130,567 km2 (50,412 sq mi) |
| Population (2012 census)[1] | |
• Total | 37,065 |
| • Density | 0.28388/km2 (0.73524/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-3 |
Sipaliwini is the largestdistrict ofSuriname, located in the south. Sipaliwini is the only district that does not have a regional capital, as it is directly administered by the national government inParamaribo.[2] Sipaliwini District includes disputed areas, with the southwestern region controlled and administered byGuyana, whereas the southeastern region is controlled byFrench Guiana.
Sipaliwini was created in 1983[2] and has apopulation of 37,065 and anarea of 130,567 km2 (50,412 sq mi).[1] The district is nearly 4 times as large as the other 9 districts of Suriname combined; however, most of Sipaliwini is almost completely covered by rainforest.[3] To create the district, theNickerie District was reduced from around 65,000 km2 (25,000 sq mi) to 5,000 km2 (1,900 sq mi).[4] Sipaliwini is thetribal area inhabited byMaroons andindigenous people.[1] Various peace treaties starting in 1686 had recognised autonomy for the tribes over their own area; however, a specific delineation of the tribal area had been lacking. The name is of Indigenous origin, referring to theSipaliwini River, and means "river of stones or rocks".[5]
It is thought byarchaeologists thathunter-gatherers lived in what is today Sipaliwini district during thePaleolithic period.[2] The region was largely left alone during thecolonial period, as theDutch that controlled Suriname were fearful of thePortuguese inBrazil, and it was not until the 20th century that development projects began.
As of 2004, there were 41schools in the areas. An increase in schools is planned, because some children have to travel long distances by foot or boat to neighbouring villages.[3] As of 2004, there are 24 clinics in the district.[3] Medical care is provided byMedische Zending.[6] In the 1950s,Operation Grasshopper established many tiny airstrips in the district in order to make the territory accessible.[7]
The Sipaliwini district had seen occasional fighting in the late 1960s betweenGuyanese and Surinamese troops over border disputes in the south-westTigri Area of theCoeroeni resort.[8]
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Sipaliwini consists of large areas of tropical rain forests, mountains, and savannas. In 1998, theCentral Suriname Nature Reserve was created byConservation International and the government ofSuriname from the fusion of three existing nature reserves: Ralleighvallen, Tafelberg andEilerts de Haangebergte.[9] It was designated a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site in 2000 for its pristine tropical rainforest ecosystem. It is known for its rapids and bird species, including the Guiana Cock of the Rock (Rupicola rupicola).[10] Over 5,000 different plants have been identified, and large mammals like thejaguar,giant armadillo, and eight species of primates.[11] A research station is located at the foot of Voltzberg and the area is tourist attraction.[10]
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TheSipaliwini Savanna Nature Reserve has been established in 1972, and is 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi) ofsavannah, and the second largest in Suriname. The reserve is near pristine and offers a wide variety in flora and fauna.[12]
TheTumuk Humak Mountains are located in the southeastern part of the district, along the border with French Guiana.[13]
Until 2011, Sipaliwini was administered by one district commissioner residing in Paramaribo. In the years since, district commissioners have been appointed for each separate resort.[3]
Sipaliwini is divided into 7resorts (ressorten):
| District | District Commissioner[14] | Serving since | Main tribes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boven Coppename | Walter Bonjaski [nl] | 2020[15] | Kwinti andTiriyó[16] |
| Boven Saramacca | Erwin Linga [nl] | 2020[15] | Matawai[3] |
| Boven Suriname | Frits Dinge [nl] | 2020[15] | Saamaka[3] |
| Coeroeni | Merilu Sapa [nl] | 2020[15] | Tiriyó[17] |
| Kabalebo | Josta Lewis [nl] | 2020[15] | Arawak andWarao[3] |
| Paramacca | Osei Jabini [nl] | 2020[15] | Paramacca[18] |
| Tapanahony | Henk Deel [nl] | 2021[19] | Ndyuka[3] |
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The district contains 156 villages.[3] All of them except for Stoelmanseiland, Villa Brazil, and Antonio do Brinco aretribal.
