Please join us in congratulating Dr. Marilyn Norconk on her Fulbright Scholar award! Dr. Norconk will lead an international and interdisciplinary team that will concentrate on conservation efforts in Suriname, South America.
2017-18 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Grant
Having colorful birds, monkeys, sloths and even jaguars in your backyard has been typical for Surinamers, even in the capital city of Paramaribo. But, the coastal forests of this small Dutch-speaking country in northern South America are being threatened by development - cattle grazing, agricultural activities and housing. With forest loss, erosion of top soil is rapid and incidences of animal-human conflict have increased. The Suriname Forest Fragment Project is a collaborative effort integrating researchers from Suriname, Holland and the U.S. During the 2017-18 grant period we will study historical and current patterns of forest use, train local college students in ecological methods to measure and map forest fragments, and engage local farmers and policy makers in an effort to slow habitat loss and increase awareness of the importance of maintaining intact forests. The Fulbright award will provide support for the first year of an anticipated multi-year project.
Dr. Norconk has conducted research in Suriname since 2003, studying the ecology and behavior of wild primates and training university students from Suriname and the U.S.