Completed
Busi Taki
The Forest93 web series that gives every Surinamese a view of the forest: from what counts as forest to season 5, which asks politicians, business and government for their green agenda.
- When
- October 2020 – May 2025
- Where
- Online, on ATV and on Supreme TV
- Themes
Busi Taki started with a simple premise: visibility of the forest for every Surinamese. The series makes nature and forests understandable and accessible, exploring what the Surinamese forest means for people, the economy, and society.
Over the years, Busi Taki grew into a series of short episodes covering a wide range of topics. Christio Wijnhard speaks with experts, investigates environmental issues, and makes topics like forests, mangroves, environmental legislation, and the value of nature accessible to a broad audience. Additionally, satellite data on Suriname’s forest is shared through the website.
Busi Taki was broadcast on ATV Networks and Supreme TV and can be followed online via busitaki.sr, Instagram and Facebook.
After five seasons, over 80 episodes, 2 short documentaries, and numerous social media shorts, Busi Taki came to an end in May 2025.
How it unfolded
Season 1: Visibility of the Forest
From October 2020 to February 2021, the season answers one question: what is green? It introduces the basic concepts — what constitutes a forest, what climate is, what forest monitoring systems are, the regulations in Suriname, and which institutions are involved.
Christio's vlogs
Vlogger Christio researches a new nature topic every week. He asks experts “what is forest?” and “do our city parks count as forest?”, looks at the new Environmental Framework Law and the need for mangroves along the coast, and dives into the value of forest and satellite technology. The website busitaki.sr also publishes quarterly satellite data from Satelligence on part of Suriname's forest.
Season 2: Nature, Wellbeing and Humanity
From June to November 2021, the focus shifts to human impact on the immediate environment, such as the Cultuurtuin, and to the relationship between diseases, religion, traditional knowledge, pandemics and our natural environment.
Season 3: Data and Resources
From April to December 2022, the season zooms deep into hard data about the forest, the relationship between water resources, and the impact of large infrastructure projects such as the Brokopondo Dam.
Season 4: Our Nature Reserves
From January to July 2023, a comprehensive exploration of the unique reserves in each district of Suriname, the current state of legislation, and new concepts such as climate-smart forestry.
Season 5: The Green Agenda
From March to May 2025, the question shifts from what is green? to how do we keep Suriname green? With a booming offshore oil and gas sector, national and international agreements on nature conservation, and the 2025 elections, Christio asks politics, business, government, the judiciary and other social stakeholders the same question: what is your green agenda for Suriname?
Contributors
The ambassadors who worked on this project, and what each of them did.
Christio Wijnhard
Host and researcher
Hosts the series and researches every topic: in his first vlogs, what forest is and why the coast needs mangroves; in season 5, what politicians, business leaders, the government and the judiciary think about keeping Suriname green.
