CNN Heroes

CNN Hero 2015

Honorary Order of the Yellow Star by the Surinamese Government awarded to Monique Pool.

Honorary Order of the Yellow Star

Honorary Order of the Yellow Star - Suriname 2018

Vedantaprijs 2017

Monique Pool is member of the IUCN/SSC Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group 


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IUCN Member Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group

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Sloth lady of Suriname

TEDxTALK Paramaribo: Monique Pool, Of sloths and women 

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TEDxTALK: Of sloths and women 

BBC: Monique Pool, The woman who lost a dog and gained 200 sloths

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The woman who lost a dog and gained 200 sloths

Monique is working to save displaced and injured sloths, and other wildlife, who have been uprooted by climate change and urbanization.

Monique Pool

CNN: Monique Pool, When sloths are in trouble, she’s the one you call

When sloths are in trouble, she’s the one you call

Global Voices: Monique Pool, A Surinamese Non-Profit Becomes the Voice for Animals Losing Their Habitats

Global Voices 

A Surinamese Non-Profit Becomes the Voice for Animals Losing Their Habitats

CNN Heroes Tribute: Monique Pool

CNN Hero Monique Pool: Hanging with the sloths

Good News Network: Monique Pool, “Sloth Lady” Who Saved 600 Rainforest Animals Nominated as Hero of the Year

Good News Network

“Sloth Lady” Who Saved 600 Rainforest Animals Nominated as Hero of the Year

Today: Monique Pool, 'Slothified!' Activist brings home 200 rescued sloths

Today

'Slothified!' Activist brings home 200 rescued sloths

Donate to Monique Pool - Help Save Sloths

Monique founded Green Heritage Fund Suriname to promote sustainable development. Prominent programs include the sloth-friendly Xenarthra program, the Dolphin program, the Education & Research program and the Green Community Development program.

SDG 15 Life on Land

Fight Extinction

## In short
Monique is the Founder of the Green Heritage Fund Suriname and she is fighting to save displaced and injured sloths, and other wildlife, who have been uprooted by climate change and urbanization. 

**Abandoned sloth**
It all started when I helped nurse and take care of an abandoned sloth that I found in an animal shelter. This made me realize that there were many more wild animals in need of help, and it led me to found my organization and start my work rehabilitation and relocating wild animals. 

**The danger of the city**
Because of climate change and the loss of habitat due to deforestation sloths and other animals move into urban areas where they are at risk of getting hurt. Unfortunately, the continued loss of habitat is also threatening the sloth of being endangered in this area. 

**Protecting sloths and their home**
In addition to saving, rehabilitating and relocating wild animals, we also provide researchers with data on animal behavior to increase the knowledge about the species and in turn develop conservation efforts. We are also working with community outreach, informing about the wildlife in Suriname and how to protect our unique ecosystem.

## My organization
Green Heritage Fund Suriname (GHFS) is a non-profit organization that was established in 2005. The aim is to promote sustainable development by educating and empowering society to consciously strive towards continued protection and improvement of the regional environment, partially through the development of clean, green ecotourism. 
The mission of the organization is having all Surinamers make wise decisions for the sustainable use of their natural resources and the vision is to create a society that consciously works towards the continued improvement of its environment and the promotion of a green, clean and healthy Suriname. Prominent programs include the sloth-friendly Xenarthra program, the Dolphin program, the Education & Research program and the Green Community Development program.

The foundation was run almost exclusively (99 %) by volunteers until 2016. Since 2017 a small, dedicated staff of full-time and part-time professionals has worked to benefit the many activities of the foundation.

**Goals of the Sloth Program**
The short-term goal for the rehab center is to rescue, care for, rehabilitate, and return an average of 100 animals per year to the wild. The ultimate long-term goal of the rehabilitation center is to make itself superfluous. That is, striving to reduce the intake to 50 animals per year (a reduction of 50 %) by helping the average citizen become aware that "wild animals belong in the wild." The focus will increasingly be on education and awareness. Attaining the goal also means to have succeeded in in-situ conservation by having created a green corridor in the city.

**Goals of the Dolphin Program**
The short-term goal is the protection of the wild dolphin population through establishment and maintenance of a sound community monitoring program that contributes to decision-making regarding the estuary of the Suriname River. This should lead to increased knowledge of wild dolphin habitat and populations in the Suriname River Estuary to support informed environmental decision-making while engaging local actors in education about dolphins and the ecosystems of the estuary. The long-term goal is to improve the sustainability of the dolphin program and continued engagement in advocacy for the protection of wild dolphins and other marine megafauna in Suriname and the estuary as an ecosystem. In the end, the program should lead to the promotion of the conservation of the marine environment in general and promote sustainable livelihoods by employing an ecosystem-based approach and implement marine spatial planning.

**Goals of the Education & Research Program**
All activities of the foundation are aimed at improving the awareness and the understanding of the general public regarding environmental issues. They are in general aimed at promoting sustainable development and the conservation and wise use of nature and natural resources in Suriname. The short-term goal is to create a more informed citizenry through education (formal and informal training) and information with regard to the values of nature conservation by institutionalizing a nature conservation ethic.

The work of GHFS contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals; Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life On Land and Partnerships to Achieve the Goals.

In short
Monique is the Founder of the Green Heritage Fund Suriname and she is fighting to save displaced and injured sloths, and other wildlife, who have been uprooted by climate change and urbanization.

Abandoned sloth
It all started when I helped nurse and take care of an abandoned sloth that I found in an animal shelter. This made me realize that there were many more wild animals in need of help, and it led me to found my organization and start my work rehabilitation and relocating wild animals.

The danger of the city
Because of climate change and the loss of habitat due to deforestation sloths and other animals move into urban areas where they are at risk of getting hurt. Unfortunately, the continued loss of habitat is also threatening the sloth of being endangered in this area.

Protecting sloths and their home
In addition to saving, rehabilitating and relocating wild animals, we also provide researchers with data on animal behavior to increase the knowledge about the species and in turn develop conservation efforts. We are also working with community outreach, informing about the wildlife in Suriname and how to protect our unique ecosystem.

My organization
Green Heritage Fund Suriname (GHFS) is a non-profit organization that was established in 2005. The aim is to promote sustainable development by educating and empowering society to consciously strive towards continued protection and improvement of the regional environment, partially through the development of clean, green ecotourism.
The mission of the organization is having all Surinamers make wise decisions for the sustainable use of their natural resources and the vision is to create a society that consciously works towards the continued improvement of its environment and the promotion of a green, clean and healthy Suriname. Prominent programs include the sloth-friendly Xenarthra program, the Dolphin program, the Education & Research program and the Green Community Development program.

The foundation was run almost exclusively (99 %) by volunteers until 2016. Since 2017 a small, dedicated staff of full-time and part-time professionals has worked to benefit the many activities of the foundation.

Goals of the Sloth Program
The short-term goal for the rehab center is to rescue, care for, rehabilitate, and return an average of 100 animals per year to the wild. The ultimate long-term goal of the rehabilitation center is to make itself superfluous. That is, striving to reduce the intake to 50 animals per year (a reduction of 50 %) by helping the average citizen become aware that "wild animals belong in the wild." The focus will increasingly be on education and awareness. Attaining the goal also means to have succeeded in in-situ conservation by having created a green corridor in the city.

Goals of the Dolphin Program
The short-term goal is the protection of the wild dolphin population through establishment and maintenance of a sound community monitoring program that contributes to decision-making regarding the estuary of the Suriname River. This should lead to increased knowledge of wild dolphin habitat and populations in the Suriname River Estuary to support informed environmental decision-making while engaging local actors in education about dolphins and the ecosystems of the estuary. The long-term goal is to improve the sustainability of the dolphin program and continued engagement in advocacy for the protection of wild dolphins and other marine megafauna in Suriname and the estuary as an ecosystem. In the end, the program should lead to the promotion of the conservation of the marine environment in general and promote sustainable livelihoods by employing an ecosystem-based approach and implement marine spatial planning.

Goals of the Education & Research Program
All activities of the foundation are aimed at improving the awareness and the understanding of the general public regarding environmental issues. They are in general aimed at promoting sustainable development and the conservation and wise use of nature and natural resources in Suriname. The short-term goal is to create a more informed citizenry through education (formal and informal training) and information with regard to the values of nature conservation by institutionalizing a nature conservation ethic.

The work of GHFS contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals; Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life On Land and Partnerships to Achieve the Goals.

Suriname’s sloths are taking desperate measures to find food and shelter due to climate change and urbanization. Monique rehabilitates and finds them a new home in the wild.

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