Brownsberg nature Park is the most visited protected area in Suriname. Sixteen camera trapping stations, some with two opposite cameras, were positioned at Brownsberg Nature Park in 2012. After a trial period the cameras worked continuous from January 2013 till December 2016. The initial objective was to investigate the impact of eco-tourism on the mammal community. Later other interesting subjects were explored as well (i.e. impact of illegal gold mining, competition between jaguars and pumas, and density estimations). This data set shows only the large terrestrial mammals (>1 kg body mass) and terrestrial birds for the period December 2013 till February 2015. However more than half of the triggers was caused by human activity (tourists, cars, road workers, etc.). The principal investigators of the camera trapping research projects were/are Paul Ouboter and Vanessa Kadosoe, while several students occasionally assisted or carried out thesis research on related subjects (Dimitri Ouboter and Geeta Thakoerdien).

The Invertebates Old Collection Before 1987 contains collection specimens that were donated by the Foundation Surinaams Museum. This museum is now specifically focussed on culture and art. These specimens were collected all over Suriname between 1900 and 1987. The dataset also includes few specimens from South and Central American countries. Some of the main collectors were v. Doesburg, D. Geyskes, H. Heyde and P.J. Hummelen.

The Paloemeu River Expedition was carried out between 20 Februari – 4 March 1993. The team landed at Paloemeu village and from there traveled upstream the Paloemeu River in dugout canoes to the Kasikasima Mt. that was climbed. On the way 4 camps were constructed where the team stayed overnight for for 1 to 3 nights. The team consisted of Paul Ouboter (expedition leader, herpetologist), Bart De Dijn (entomologist), and Michael Overman (preparator). Habitats: clear water river with many rapids, small brooklets, rock savanna vegetation on inselberg and tropical rainforest.

In 1988, between August 15th and September 3rd, an expedition was carried out to the Sipaliwini River and Sipaliwini Savanna. The team landed at Kwamalasamutu for a meeting with the chief of the Trio Amerindian tribe to get permission from him to carry-out the expedition. From there the team went by dugout canoes upstream the Sipaliwini River to the Sipaliwini Airstrip, continuing on the Viergebroeders Creek to near the Vier Gebroeders Mountains. The team consisted of Paul Ouboter (expedition leader, herpetologist). Pieter Teunissen (botanist), Jan Toto (preparator) and Leo Roberts (field assistant). The focus of the expedition was on plants, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, spiders and scorpiones. Habitats sampled were clear water river with many rapids, tropical rainforest and savanna. A second expedition was carried out between August 1st and August 20th 1989. The team landed at Kwamalasamutu and first traveled downstream to the Sir Walther Raleigh Falls (Upper Coeroeni River) and from there returned upstream, continuing all the way to Sipaliwini Airstrip. At the airstrip a guide and porters were hired to carry all the load to the Apalagadi Mountain, just north of the Sipaliwini Savanna. The team consisted of Paul Ouboter (expedition leader, herpetologist), Jan Mol (ichthyologist), Jan Toto (preparator). The focus of the expedition was on amphibians, reptiles and fishes. Habitats sampled were clear rivers, creeks and brooklets, tropical rainforest and savanna.

The Oelemari River Expedition was carried out between March 29th and May 2nd 1998. The team landed at Kawemhakan (Anapaike) and from there traveled upstream the Lawa River and Oelemari River all the way into the Oranje gebergte (Oranje Mts.). On the way 6 camps were constructed. The team consisted of Paul Ouboter (expedition leader, herpetologist), Bart De Dijn (entomologist), Anielkoemar Gangadien (entomological assistant), Shamita Sahdew (vertebrate assistant) and Stanley Ramanand (ichthyological assistant). Habitats: clear water river with many rapids, creeks and brooklets, tropical rainforest, also some swampy areas.

The first expedition to Tafelberg was carried out in cooperation with the National Herbarium of Suriname between June 10 and June 28, 2003. From the Rudi Kappel Airstrip the team walked to the plateau of Tafelberg (Augustus Creek) in three days. Basecamp was established at Augustus Creek (580m altitude) and most collecting was done here. On the 19th the team moved to a second basecamp at Caiman Creek (700m altitude), to return to Basecamp I on the 24th. On the 26th helicopters picked the team up and dropped them at the airstrip. The 27th was spend collecting at the Rudi Kappel Airstrip. The collected specimens include plants, insects, fish, amphibians and reptiles. In addition, observations on birds and mammals were done. The second expedition was executed between March 23rd and April 7, 2005. This was also a cooperation between NZCS and the National Herbarium of Suriname. Helicopters were used to reach Augustus Creek at the Tafelberg plateau and returning to the airstrip. Also, during this expedition Caiman Creek was visited for collecting, from March 30th, returning to basecamp on April 3rd. Collections during this expedition concern the same taxonomic groups as during the first expedition, but in addition observations on water quality and vegetation were done. The teams carrying out the first and second expedition are as follows: Dr. Paul E. Ouboter (1&2) Expedition leader/ichthyologist, herpetologist & ecologist/videographer (NZCS/CMO/IBER) Shamita A. Sahdew (1) Assistant-curator Vertebrates (NZCS/IBER) Rawien Jairam (1&2) Assistant Vertebrates (NZCS) Gwendolyn Landburg (2) Limnologist (CMO) Drs. Otte Ottema (1&2) Ornithologist (STINASU) Foek Chin Joe (2) Assistant ornithologist Ir. Helene Hiwat-van Laar (1&2) Entomologist (NZCS) Anielkoemar Gangadin (1&2) Assistant-curator Invertebrates (NZCS) Drs. Usha Raghoenandan † (1) Botanist (BBS) Bart De Dijn Lcs. (2) Vegetation Scientist Joelaika Behari-Ramdas (1&2) Assistant-curator Botany (BBS) Frits van Troon (2) Tree specialist Janice Bisambar (1) Student Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Technology Adams Deel (1) Guide/foreman 1st expedition Mani Titi (1) Field assistant Tetijese Watiri (1) Field assistant/tree climber Mariwehte Sowiwi (1) Field assistant/tree climber Mr. Jacobi Guide/foreman 2nd expedition Timothy (2) Field assistant/tree climber Kumu (2) Field assistant The third expedition was carried out in cooperation with Kansas University and the New York Botanical Garden. The team left by airplane and helicopter on the 12th of August, returned to Rudi Kappel Airstrip on August 23rd and returned to Paramaribo on August 26th. The team consisted of Andrew Short (water beetle specialist), Kevin Bloom (water beetles and fish), Paul Ouboter and Vanessa Kadosoe (amphibians and reptiles), Fabian Michelangeli (Neotropical plants), Julian Aguirre (Bromeliads). A team of 5 people helped with cooking, camp building and functioned as guides (Mr. Bert, Mr Spier, Miss Hermina, Mani and Oewawa) Collected specimens concerned plants, water beetles, fish, amphibians and reptiles.

The first expedition to Nassau Mountain was carried out as a Rapid Assessment by Conservation International between 25 October and 6 November 2005. The RAP expedition visited both Nassau and Lely Mts. No personnel of NZCS was involved, however some specimens are stored in the NZCS collections. In 2006 NZCS was asked to be involved in a search for the micro-endemic Hartiella crassicauda that was found at Nassau Mt. This trip was carried out between 29 March and 4 April 2006. During this trip observations on amphibians and reptiles were done as well, and some were collected. The team for this trip consisted of Jan Mol, Frank van der Lugt, Kenneth Wan Tong You, Paul Ouboter and Adrian Flynn. Based on the findings of the above-mentioned surveys, a third trip was organized from 15 to 24 July 2006, resulting in many additions to the herpetofauna of the area. The team for this trip was made up of Paul Ouboter, Rawien Jairam and Kenneth Wan Tong You. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was carried out for the Nassau area between 10 and 23 May 2010 as a preparation for bauxite mining. NZCS was only involved in the herpetological part. The team consisted of Usha Satnarain, Rawien Jairam and Kenneth Wan Tong You. In December 2014 a forth trip to Nassau Mountain was carried out by Antoine Fouguet and Rawien Jairam to collect amphibians.

The Vertebrate Old Collection Before 1987 contains collection specimens that were donated by the Foundation Surinaams Museum. This museum is now specifically focussed on culture and art. These specimens were collected all over Suriname between 1879 and 1987. The dataset also includes few specimens from Brazil. Some of the main collectors were D. Geijskes, J. Toto, Lijding, R. Vari, H. Madarie.

The Zuid River Expedition was carried between February 6th and 19th 1988, with the main purpose to investigate the ecology of caimans in the area. However, during the expeditions fish, amphibians and reptiles were also collected. The team consisted of Paul Ouboter (expedition leader, herpetologist), Jan Mol (ichthyologist) and Jan Toto (preparator). The base camp was established at Kayser Airstrip. Habitats: Zuid river is a clear water river with many rapids and the shore vegetation is principally Tropical Rainforest. However, some small savannas occur east of the airstrip as well.

The Para River – Topibo Swamp studies 1993-2007 were focused on the ecology of this black water stream and the caiman species that were observed. During the study, fishes, amphibians and reptiles were collected. The dataset contains only the amphibians and reptiles. The study was carried out by Paul Ouboter, Bart De Dijn and Jan Toto.