PARAMARIBO — The Green Heritage Fund Suriname has learned that Jan Hein Ribot (1949) passed away on September 30. In 2023 it was a privilege for our foundation to nominate this special man for an honorable award from the Surinamese government.
It was our belief that his extraordinary efforts and contributions to promoting nature education in Suriname deserved recognition and appreciation. On December 19, 2023, Ribot received the Honorary Order of the Palm from Ambassador Radjendre Khargi.
“Thanks to his extensive data on bird distribution, he has put Suriname on the map as a top destination for ornithologists and has helped promote ecotourism and employment in the country”
For more than 25 years, Jan Hein Ribot has put the beautiful nature of Suriname in the spotlight both nationally and internationally in an exceptionally positive way through his website. With valuable information about the birds of Suriname he has created an invaluable source of knowledge. He was a pioneer in this field, as his website was launched way back in 1996, long before similar initiatives existed, such as google.com which was only founded in 1998.
What makes his contribution extra special is that he not only presented the birds and their sounds, but also fun personal facts, including information in different languages, including local languages such as Arawaks. This showed his respect for local cultures and languages.
His website has played an important role in increasing knowledge about birds among the Surinamese population, especially among the youth. Through photos, videos and interactive maps, he provided an engaging and educational experience. As a result, he has succeeded in arousing the interest of young Surinamese people and making them aware of the value of the natural environment.
Thanks to his extensive data on bird distribution, he has put Suriname on the map as a top destination for ornithologists and has helped promote ecotourism and employment in the country. In addition, his work has aided conservation by providing valuable insights into bird populations, which is crucial for protecting biodiversity.
What is even more remarkable is that his website is not only popular worldwide, but is also frequently visited by Surinamese, especially schoolchildren, who consult the site for educational purposes. This shows the impact of his work on both the local population and beyond. Jan Hein Ribot was also co-author of the bird books ‘Field Guide to the Birds of Suriname‘ (first edition 2015) and ‘Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Suriname‘ (2009).
What was special about Ribot’s efforts was that he did not pursue any form of financial gain with his website. There are no advertisements on the website. His work was completely selfless and driven by a genuine passion to collect the data of Suriname’s birds in one place and inspire people worldwide.
With the death of Ribot, Suriname loses a person who has selflessly dedicated himself for years to promoting nature in Suriname and increasing awareness of the rich bird diversity in the country. His website is invaluable and has reached people worldwide, which is a testament to his impressive achievements in conservation and education.
We wish his family strength with this loss.
