Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Biologically, Liberia‘s forest and coastal marine ecosystems are exceptionally diverse, with high rates of endemism and many species that are nearly extinct outside the country [ ] 142 Community forests established and comprehensively managed Liberia has made some efforts in the implementation of the convention since the completion of the Fourth National Report. A number of actions have been taken to institutionalize the implementation of the convention at national level. For instance: • The Environmental Protection Agency has developed a number of regulations, standards and guide- lines for the implementation of environmental and social impact assessments in line with environ- mental protection and management law and the National Environment Policy • The Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy is completing the revision of its legislation, policy, regulations and guidelines to improve manage- ment and enforcement of environ- mental and social impact assess- ment concerns in the mining sector • The Forestry Development Author- ity is reviewing the regulations and guidelines on Private Use Permits to bring that aspect of the forestry to best practice standards. It has also developed a ten core best prac- tice Code of Harvest • The Ministry of Agriculture has completed a policy on nutrition and food security, and undertaken other studies in the sector. All of these actions have been carried out with the involvement of relevant stakeholders including the local population, with funding from the government and donor organizations. The Forestry Development Author- ity has demarcated seven commu- nity forests, and developed policy, regulations and guidelines for the management of community forestry. Other achievements include training a number of women in communities around one of the protected areas, Sapo National Park, in livelihood im- provement, both in Sinoe and Grand Gedeh Counties. The major national achievement for this division was the passage into law of the Community Rights Law by the national legisla- ture and the establishment of the Community Forestry Development Community, a committee repre- senting affected communities where forest concessions are in benefits to be accrued to those communities. Prior to the coming into force of the new forestry law, community forestry was not taken seriously, and only three community forests existed in the entire country. Under the new era, there are seven community forests with most of the management tools in place in the form of technical guidelines, policy and regulations. In terms of what is anticipated in the next five years, the strategic plan includes the establishment of 10 com- munity forests, training of personnel and putting in place the institutional framework, technical guidelines and legal regimes by 2018. T he country’s resources contain a significant amount of biodiversity, with over 2,000 vascular plants (including 225 tree species), 600 bird, 150 mammal, and 75 reptile species. Liberia’s forests also produce a wide range of other environmental goods and services that benefit it and the rest of the world. Approximately 70 per cent of the population live in rural areas and depend for their livelihood on the products and services of agricultural, forestry and other extractive industries. The protection and management of national forest areas and reserves has therefore been of great concern to the communities that depend on those natural resources. Blue Lake, Bomi Hills JB Dodane on flickr Liberia