Naam: Anwar Helstone
Afdeling: Bosbouw
Functie: Scientist (researcher)
Indiensttreding: December 2007
Email: helstonewalther@hotmail.com
Url:

 

Anwar Helstone

  • 2015 – recent:
  • Anton de Kom University of Suriname: MSc. in Education Research and Sustainable Development
  • 2000 – 2007:
  • Anton de Kom University of Suriname (Agrarische Produktie), (4 jarige BSc)
  • Thesis at CELOS: Agroforestry systems in the Njun Lombe cluster villages
  • Supervisors: Minu Parahoe MSc., Dr. R. Van Kanten
  • 1996– 1999:
  • School for Engineering and Natural Resources Science (NATIN)
  • Orientation: Agriculture

Working experiences
2004 - 2005: 
  • Tannia (Xanthosomas sagittifolium), Inventarisation of the bottlenecks of the cultivation of in vitro propagated plants; Formulate a cropping and production calendar in the Wayambo area. Internship during the study at ADEK with Pater Ahlbrinck Stichting (NGO) with Indigenous communities along the Wayambo and Coppename river.
December 2007 - present:
  • Researcher at the Centre for Agriculture Research in Suriname (CELOS).
  • Occasional assistance of researcher of the agriculture department of ADEK
November 2008 - 2016:
  • Part time teacher at NATIN (School for Engineering and Natural Resources Science
 
  • ‘Bijzondere Plantenteelt’
  • ‘Voorlichtingskunde’ Extension
  • ‘Agrarische bedrijfskunde’ Agribusiness
October 2005 - November 2007:
  • Assistant researcher at the Dept. of Agrobiodiversity at the Centre for Agriculture Research in Suriname.
  • Participates in Guyagrofor project as fieldsupervisor working with  Marroon (Njun Lombe cluster villages) and Indigenous community (Matta) in the interior of Suriname.
Oktober 2005 - present:
  • Assistance of the department of Agriculture of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname in fieldwork with Communities and NGO’s in the interior of Suriname.

International experiences:
20 April 2006 – 28 April 2006
  • Second International Guyagrofor project workshop in Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela.
24 July – 28 July 2006
  • Caribbean Counsil for Higher Education in agriculture (CACHE), Exchange programme for Students and Professors from CACHE Member Institutions at UWI, St. Augistine Trinidad and Tobago
31 July – 4 August 2006
  • Training Improving the Quality and Safety of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables organized by the ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisherie, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Paramaribo - Suriname
2006
  • Nominated by the ADEK University in participation in the preselection to the “International Conference on Youth and Desertification” Bamako, Mali. 4-6 September, 2006.
28 January – 18 February 2007
  • Curso International para Capacitação em Tecnologias Agroflorestais in Belem, Brazil
23 October – 27 October 2007
  • Third International Guyagrofor project workshop in Boavista, Brazil
28 April 2008 – 2 may 2008
  • Red de Estudios de las Condiciones Amazonicas de Vida y Ambiente Workshop in Tena, Ecuador
9 June 2008 – 13 June 2008
  • The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, ATBC conference in Paramaribo, Suriname
28 July 2008 – 1 August 2008
  • Caribbean Counsil for Higher Education in agriculture (CACHE), Exchange programme for Students and Professors from CACHE Member Institutions at GSA and UG, Georgetown Guyana
3 November 2008 – 7 November 2008
  • Fourth International Guyagrofor project workshop in Villa Bella, Brazil
9 November 2008 – 15 November 2008
  • Fieldtrip to Maranhao (Brazil) because the activities around the development of the Babassu in relation with the communities and visit to the RAVA study site in Maranhao. Hosted by the Amazonica Initiative Consortium.
5 May 2009 – 9 May 2009
  • Red de Estudios de las Condiciones Amazonicas de Vida y Ambiente Workshop in Belem, Belem.
24 August 2009 – 27 August 2009
  • World Agroforestry Congres, Kenya, Poster presentation
1 September 2009 – 4 September 2009
  • Final Guyagrofor workshop in Leuven, Belgium
7 September 2009 – 11 September 2009
  • Second Forum for Young Leaders in Agriculture in the Americas, Building Expertise with Young Rural Leaders in the Americas Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Sustainable Environment
1 August – 4 August 2010
  • II Biodiversity Congres of the Guiana Shield, Macapa – Brazil.   
15 January 2012 -22 January 2012
  • Workshop RAVA REDD Alert, Pucallpa, Peru (Host INIA & ICRAF)
May 2012
  • LASA Congress (Latin Studies of the Americas), San Fransisco, USA
August 2013
  • III International congress Biodiversity of the GuianaShield, Paramaribo, Suriname
October 2014
  • Caribbean Week of Agriculture , Paramaribo, Suriname July 2015: 51 Annual congress CFCS (Caribbean Food Crop Society), Paramaribo, Suriname  (Coordinator of the One day Farmers forum “Adoptation of knowledge and technology by small farmers and women's organizations in rural areas in Suriname”)

Specific Interest and experience
As an agricultural specialist who has gained practical experience by working at the Centre for Agriculture Research in Suriname (CELOS) at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname. In addition to this, I have worked with farmers and farmers groups in rural areas (incl. Maroon and Indigenous). Furthermore, I’ve teach classes at the Institute for Natural resources and Engineering studies (NATIN). Sustainable agriculture and community development in Suriname can contribute to a prosperous economy of Suriname, and can assist to combat  food insecurity which is an objective of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). From my experiences in the agriculture sector in Suriname, I have observed that the farmers and community members are not aware of their potentials to improve their quality of live. As we know most of the agriculture activities take place in rural areas, were the community members live with traditions and culture that are valuable for the community. Indigenous communities and farmers groups (small scale) in rural areas like to stick to traditions, culture and habits, which makes them vulnerable in taking decisions to change or to implement a mind shift. I have noticed that there are no agricultural and forestry extension officers in rural areas. There is an urgent need in these areas for these Extension Officers. Most of the extension work is temporary (on project basis) conducted by NGO’s, CBO, CSO. The need for information/technical assistance for farmers and community members is urgent.

Research areas
Main Research areas:
  • Agroforestry system development
  • Participatory Baseline studies on agriculture systems in rural areas, Indigenous and Maroon Communities
  • Agro sociology and Extension (transfer of knowledge)
  • Agrobiodiversity

REDD + project

Articles, reports and brochures

  • Scientific article published in ADEK University scientific magazine “Interactie” No.8, 2007: Agricultural systems in Maroon villages in Suriname.
  • Pine apple Brochure June 2008: “ANANAS (Ananas comosus), Diversiteit aan ananas in Matta”
  • Cassava Brochure July 2011: “CASSAVE (Manihot esculenta) Diversiteit aan cassave in Matta"
  • “Agroforestry Systems in a Maroon community as a sustainable agriculture system for the Future”, article written to participate at the pre selection to participate at the International conference on “Youth and Desertification” Bamako, Mali. 4 - 6 September, 2006
  • Handbook: Agroforestry onderzoek in Inheemse en Marron Gemeenschappen in Suriname, Maart 2011 – Paramaribo
  • Handbook: Agroforestry VELDEXPERIMENTEN in Inheemse en Marron Gemeenschappen in Suriname, Maart 2011
  • DVD: Agroforestry Onderzoek in Inheemse en Marron Gemeenschappen in Suriname, Maart 2011
  • Livro de Resumos, II Congresso Internacional Da Biodiversidad do Escudo Guianas, Macapa 1 a 4 Agosto 2010: Indigenous and Maroon Agroforestry systems in Suriname p.128 and Potencial Ecological services of the Coronie Fresh-water swamp in Suriname p.95.
  • GUYAGROFOR species list Trees  Palms  Cash crops  Other crops
  • DELIVERABLE NR 21: Data sets per field trails
  • DELIVERABLE NR 22: Quarterly interpretation of performance of the fieldtrials with test farmers
  • DELIVERABLE NR 23: Intermediate meetings with multi-stakeholder Platforms
  • DELIVERABLE NR 24: Calculation of soil water and nutrient balances per field trial and comparative assessment of the results in Matta en Njun Lombé Cluster in Suriname
  • DELIVERABLE NR 25: Evaluation of the effects of the combinen indigenous and agrobiological techniques on the sustainability of the nutrientmanagement system
  • ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES OF MAROON AND INDIGENOUS SHIFTING CULTIVATION SYSTEMS with MODERN AGROFORESTRY TECHNIQUES DELIVERABLE NR 34: CONCLUSIVE PARTICIPATORY
  • Agroforestry Research in Suriname: Options of tree species that are economically viable for the agroforestry systems in Maroon and Indigenous Shifting Cultivating systems, P18 -19, Amazon Agroforestry Volume 21, Icraf Amazon Newsletter, September 2010
  • Indigenous and Maroon agroforestry systems in Suriname, abstract II biodiversity Congress of the Guiana Shield 2012
  • Potential ecological services of the coronae fresh-water swamp in Suriname, abstract II biodiversity Congress of the Guiana Shield 2012
  • Assessing the relevance of slash and burn upland rice farming plots, maripa palm products and firewood collection for local livelihoods in Maroon villages along the Suriname river. Abstract LASA 2012 congress
  • Voices of Rural Farmers in Suriname about climate change, agriculture innovation and landscape management, Abstract CFCS 2016
  • Introducing agroforestry as alternative land use practice for the Marchalkreek community, Abstract Annual National Congress “AdeKUS Research Days” 29th & 30th November 2017
  • Rapport multidisciplinary landscape assessment te Pikin slee, boven-Suriname onderzoek van de landschappen, vegetatie, bodem en landbouw, 2018
  • Agroforestry in Koina kondre, Youtube 2018 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPd88S54U5Q )
  • Using FPIC in agricultural projects; bliss or burden? The case of theAgrobiodiversity Project in three local communities in Suriname Annual National Congress “AdeKUS Research Days” 29th & 30th November 2017, abstract V biodiversity Congress of the Guiana Shield 2019
  • The status of agroforestry techniques and extension services in shifting cultivation systems to combat climate change effects in a Maroon village along the upper Suriname river, abstract V biodiversity Congress of the Guiana Shield 2019
 
Research & Development Projects
Project Title Period Fund Grant amount Location Key Crops /Trees Role
Guyagrofor project “Development of Sustainable Agroforestry Systems based on Indigenous and Maroon Knowledge in the Guyana shield region” Oktober 2005 – November 2009 EU 6th Frame work programme Euro 150.000,00 Njun Lombe cluster villages (Brokopondo), Matta (Para) Pine apple, Cassava, Tannia, Ginger, PlantainGliricidia 2005-2007: Field supervisor/ Research Assistant; 2007-2009: Project coordinator/ Researcher
“Training in het toepassen  van “Taylor Made Guidelines” als methode voor het evalueren/implementeren van Agroforestry onderzoek” September 2009 – Februari  2010 Capacitiets fonds Bos en natuur Suriname SRD 69.300,00 Njun Lombe cluster villages (Brokopondo), Matta (Para) Pine apple, Cassava, Tannia, Ginger, Taro, Plantain, Gliricidia Project coordinator / Researcher / Trainer
RAVA study (Red de Estudios de las Condiciones Amazonicas de Vida y Ambiente) – Amazon Livelihood and Environment Network March 2009 – June 2010 Worldbank USD 27.000,00 Nine (9) Marroon villages along the Suriname river (Brokopondo, Sipaliwini) Cassava, Tannia, Ginger, Taro, Plantain, Awarra, Maripa Project coordinator/Researcher
“Training in het toepassen van de RAVA-PEN methodiek” April 2009 – September  2010 Capacitiets fonds Bos en natuur Suriname SRD 38.461,87 Njun Lombe cluster villages (Brokopondo), Matta (Para) Cassava, Tannia, Ginger, Taro, Plantain, Awarra, Maripa Project coordinator / Researcher / Trainer
Inventory of the Forest stands of the proposed future Nassau bauxite mining site 2012 Alcoa ---------- Nassau, Sipaliwini Member of the Research team
Rehabilitatie terreinen met secundaire vegetatie Marchallkreek 2014-2021 SGP-GEF Suriname USD 50.000,00 Marchalkreek (Brokopondo) Plantain, Taro, Tannia, Cordia, Soemaroeba, Teak, Gliricidia Member of the Research team
Conservation of agrobiodiversity and providing communities key crop planting material 2014-2021 SGP-GEF Suriname USD 150.000,00 Para, Marowijne, Brokopondo Pine apple, Cassava, Plantain, Ginger, Passion fruit, Okra, Taro, Tannia, Yam Member of the Project coordination team / Researcher / Trainer
Conservation of agrobiodiversity and providing communities key crop planting material 2015-2018 Alcoa Foundation USD 74.000,00 Para (Matta), Marowijne (Ricanaumoffo), Brokopondo (Asigron) Pine apple, Cassava, Plantain, Ginger, Passion fruit, Okra, Taro, Tannia, Yam Member of the Project coordination team / Researcher / Trainer
Implementation of an Agroforestry Pilot “Introduction of trees in shifting cultivation crop systems” 2018 FAO USD 20.000,00 Marchallkreek Resort (Brokopondo) Vegetables, Ginger, Plantain, Krappa, Soemaroeba, Cordia, Teak, Member of the Project coordination team / Researcher / Trainer
Participatory mapping, ecosystem service assessment, and resilience against climate change 2017 - 2018 GCCA+ USD 98,950.20 PikinSlee (Partnership with Tropenbos Suriname) Plantain, Ceder, Soemaroeba , fruitcrops Researcher / Trainer
Dissemination and sustaining of the Marchallkreek Agroforestry initiative 2019-2021 REDD+ Ground Truth Project USD 75.360,00 Marchallkreek Resort (Brokopondo) Plantain, Krappa, Bruinhart, Ceder, Cupuacu, Groenhart Member of the Project coordination team / Researcher / Trainer
Feasibility Analysis Blue Carbon Pilot 2021 Conservation International USD 15.000,00 Coastal zone Suriname Bluecarbon Researcher
Support to the Accelerator for Agriculture and Agroindustry Development and Innovation (3ADI+) in Suriname    2021 FAO USD 31.520,00 Suriname nationwide Pine Apple Member of the Project coordination team / Researcher / Trainer