The National Environmental Authority of Suriname strengthens its assessment capacity

In 2024 the National Environmental Authority of Suriname (NMA, formerly NIMOS) was established. Its goal was to improve and reenforce the legal framework for environmental management in Suriname, to better face environmental challenges. In 2025, following new legislation, the NMA has become the legal authority responsible for granting approval for Government Decisions on Environmental Impact Assessment (Staatsbesluit Milieueffectanalyse, or MEA). Up to that point, carrying out an ESIA had been voluntary.

Considering this new responsibility, the NMA has to be able to review and assess these MEAs at a high standard of quality. The NMA has therefore indicated that it needs to strengthen the MEA team’s assessment capacity. Particularly because it faces the challenge of drafting and updating various procedures and must ensure the quality of MEAs. Also, there are major projects currently underway, and the team is expanding with new members.

The NMA requested the NCEA to provide a training on the quality review of MEAs, and how to translate findings into conditions for the so called “Certificate of Approval”.

Since 2017, the NCEA has worked with NIMOS, Suriname (now called NMA) to jointly develop ESIA sector guidelines for offshore oil and gas development. The initiative is (financially) supported by WWF Netherlands and WWF Guianas. Find out more about this project here.

Picture: ©Nationale Milieu Autoriteit, 2026