Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
Bigi Pan IBA is a Multiple use management Area which means that it has more functions than only nature protection. There is a lot of fischery in the shallow lagoons and on the mudflats, and there is legal and illegal hunting in the swamps. As with al wetlands the Bigi Pan is important for mankind because of its biological functions such as, nursery for seafish, waterfiltering and protection from rising seawaterlevel. A high biodiversity makes this site suitable for especially tourism and recreation.
The Bigi Pan is part of an EBA because of the common occurence of three range restricted species, Guyanian Piculet, Blood-colored Woodpecker and Rufous Crabhawk. The mudflats and the swamps are important for the numurous North-American shorebirds.The 1% treshold is met for American woodstork, Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Semi-palmated plover, Short-billed Dowitcher. Hence it is an IBA on A2, A4i and A4iii criteria. Further it's important as a fouraging area for Scarlet Ibis outside the breeding season. Bubo virginianis is breeding here.
Non-bird biodiversity: The Bigi Pan area is rich in fish species. This area is also known as a habitat for the jaguar.
Land is used for agriculture (rice) in Wageningen, fishery, hunting and tourism in the pans.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Large scale poaching. Pollution with chemicals from rice fields. There is also a rumor that airplanes are dumping residues of chemicals on the mudflats.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Spaans, A.L., 1984. "Waterbirds studies in coastal Suriname"
Held, M.M., 1990. "Status and conservation of the Scarlet Ibis in Suriname"
Teunissen, P.A., 1995. "The coastal zone of Suriname. Environmental threats and management".
Since 1982 waterquality studies are done regularly in Bigi Pan.
Bigi Pan IBA is a Multiple use Management Area.
The Bigi Pan area is owned by the state Suriname is placed at the disposal of the Ministry of Physical Planning Land and Forest Management.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bigi Pan (Suriname). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bigi-pan-iba-suriname on 23/12/2024.
