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TABLE OF CONTENT PAGE
1. 0 INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………….…
1.1 KEY COP DECISIONS ON BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT ……………..…
1.2 THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ………………………..
1.2.1 THE CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ………………………
1.2.2 THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF COMPONENTS OF BIODIVERSITY …………
1.2.3 FAIR AND EQUITABLE SHARING ………………………………
1.2.4 CONVENTION TEXT, ARITICLES AND ANNEXES …………
1.2.5 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CBD IN LIBERIA …………………
2. 0 RATIONALE FOR NATIONAL CAPACITY SELF-ASSESSMENT ……………………………………………
2.1 METHODOLOGY FOR NCSA STOCKTAKING INITIATIVE… 3. 0 THEMATIC ASSESSMENT: SITUATION ANALYSIS ………..
3.1 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES…..
3.1.1 GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES AND AGENCIES ………………..
3.1.2 NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (LOCAL) …………
3.1.3 INTERNATIONAL NGOS …………………………………………..
3.1.4 ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS ………………………………………
3.1.5 PRIVATE SECTOR ………………………………………………….
3.2 STRUCTURES FOR BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT …………
3.2.1 LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURES ……………………..
3.2.3 SECTORAL LEVEL COORDINATION STRUCTURES………….
3.2.4 OPERATIONAL LEVEL STRUCTURES ………………………….
3.3 THE EXISTING POLICY ENVIRONMENT ………………………
3.3.1 AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY ENVIRONMENT ………………………………………………………... 3.3.2 HORTICULTURE POLICY OBJECTIVES ……………………………
3.3.3 LIVESTOCK POLICY OBJECTIVES ………………………………….
3.3.4 FISHERIES POLICY OBJECTIVES ……………………………………
3.3.5 LAND AND WATER RESOURCES POLICY OBJECTIVES …………
3.3.6 FORESTRY POLICY OBJECTIVES ……………………………………
3.3.7 WILDLIFE POLICY OBJECTIVES ……………………………………..
3.3.8 ENVIRONEMNTAL POLICY FRAMEWORK …………………………..
3.3.9 FOOD SECURITY POLICY OBJECTIVES …………………………..
3.3.10 MINING POLICY OBJECTIVES ……………………………………….
4.0 EXISTING PROGRAMMES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ……………..
4.1 WILDLIFE/PROTECTED AREAS ………………………………………
4.2 SAPO NATIONAL PARK ………………………………………………..
4.3 NBSAP PROJECT ……………………………………………………….
4.4 BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ………….
4.5 ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA ……………………
4.6 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ……………………….
4.7 FAUNA AND FLORA INTERNATIONAL ………………………………
5.0 MAJOR STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS/INSTITUTIONS ……..
5.1 PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS …………………………………………………
5.2 PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS ……………………………………………….
5.3 EXISTING INFORMATION AND DATABASE
………………………….
6.0 INSTRUMENTS, POLICIES AND/OR NON-REGULATORY MECHA NISMS FOR BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE USE ………………………………………………..
6.1 THE PRE 1960 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK …………………………
6.2 THE 1960-1980 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK ……………………….
6.3 THE 1980-2003 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK………………………..
6.4 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS ……………
7.0 PAST CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES ……………………..
8.0 THEMATIC PROFILE……………………………………………………..
8.1 FOREST BIODIVERSITY ………………………………………………..
8.2 AGRICULTURE BIODIVERSITY …………………………………………
8.3 MOUNTAIN BIODIVERSITY ………………………………………..…
8.4 WETLANDS AND MANGROVES ……………………………………….
8.5 COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY ………………………………..
8.6 FRESHWATER (INLAND) DIODIVERSITY …………………………………
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9.0 CROSSCUTTING ISSUES ………………………
9.1 LEGAL INSTRUMENTS: POLICIES, LAWS & INSTITUTIONS ………
9.2 CAPACITY BUILDING……………………………………………………..
9.3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ………………………………………………..
9.4 IDENTIFICATION AND MONITORING …………………………………
9.5 ACCESS AND BENEFIT SHARING …………………………………….
9.6 SUSTAINABLE USE OF COMPONENTS
9.7 OF BIODIVERSITY ……………
9.8 BIODIVERSITY PLANNING ……………………………………………….
9.9 INCENTIVE MEASURES ………………………………………………….
9.10 TRAINING AND RESEARCH ……………………………………………..
9.11 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ………………………………
9.12 IMPACT ASSESSMENT ……………………………………………………
9.13 FINANCIAL RESOURCES ………………………………………………….
9.14 INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATION AND PRACTICES AND PRACTICES AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ……………..
9.15 TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION ………………………..
9.16 PROTECTED AREAS………………………………………………………..
9.15.1 INSITU CONSERVATION ………………………………………………..
9.15.2 EX-SITU CONSERVATION
………………………………………………….
9.15.3 EX-SITU CONSERVATION: (GENE BANKS, ETC) …………………….
9.16 ALIEN AND INVASIVE SPECIES …………………………………………
9.17 ACCESS TO, AND TRANSFER OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES ……………………………………………………………….
9.18 BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOSAFETY (THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL)……………
10. 0 INDENTIFICATION/CONFIRMATION OF PRIORITY ISSUES ………………………
10.1 FOREST BIODIVERSITY………………………………………………………….
10.2 COASTALAND MARINE BIODIVERSITY …………………………………………..
10.3 WILDLIFE AND PROTECTED AREAS …………………………………………….
10.4 AGRICULTUREBIODIVERSITY (CROPS) ………………………………………..
10.5 AGRICULTURE BIODIVERSITY (LIVESTOCK) …………………………………..
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10.6 AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY ……………………………………………………….
10.7 CROSCUTTING ISSUES ……………………………………………………
10.7.1 POLICY AND INSTITUTIONALI SSUES ……………………
10.7.2 CAPACITY BUILDING ………………………………………………..….
10.7.3 IDENTIFICATION AND MONITORING …………………………………….
10.7.4 SUSTAINABLE USE …………………………………………………….
10.7.5 INCENTIVE MEASURES ………………………………………………
10.7.6 RESEARCH AND TRAINING ………………………………………….
10.7.7 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ………………………………
10.7.8 ACESS AND BENEFIT SHARING ………………………………………
10.7.9 BIOSAFETY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY ………………………………….
10.7.10 ALIEN AND INVASIVE SPECIES ………………………………………
11.0 PRIORITIZATION OF ISSUES AND CAPACITY NEEDS ………………..
12.0 ASSESSMENT OF CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS FOR PRIORITY ISSUES AT VARIOUS LEVELS
12.1 CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS AT INDIVIDUAL LEVEL……………………
12.2 CAPACITY CONSTRAINSTS AT INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL ……………….
12.3 CAPACITY CONSTRINSTS AT SYSTEMIC LEVEL …………………….
13.0 OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAPACITY BUILDING TO ADDRESS CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS FOR PRIORITY ISSUES IN BIODIVERSITY ………….
13.1 MATRIX
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THE LIBERIAN BIODIVERSITY COUNTRY STUDY I. 0 INTRODUCTION The Conservation of Biological Diversity was first identified as a priority in 1972 at
the United Nations Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden. The
first meeting of UNEP’s Governing Council the following year identified the
conservation of nature, wildlife, and genetic resources as priority areas. Throughout
the rest of the 1970s, many international and regional legal instruments on particular
aspects of biological diversity were adopted; including:-
• The 1971 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands which seeks to protect these
biologically prolific but under evaluated ecosystems;
• The 1972 Convention for the protection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage, which channels international financial, scientific, and technological
support to sites of outstanding value;
• The 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES),
which bans or regulates trade in 3,000 plants and 4,000 animal species
through a system of permits and certificates;
• The 1979 Bonn Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), which coordinates
regional and global efforts to protect 10,000 migratory species including birds,
dolphins, and marine turtles.
In May 1988, UNEP established an Ad-Hoc Working Group of Experts on Biological
Diversity with a mandate to prepare an international legally binding instrument for
the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. It took into account the
need to share costs and benefits between developed and developing counties and
the ways and means to support innovations by local people.
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In 1991, the Ad-Hoc Working Group evolved into an inter-governmental Negotiating
Committee. The Committee held seven working sessions to negotiate and adopt the
text of the CBD. Prior to this, the Conference for the adoption of the Agreed Text of
the CBD was convened by the Executive Director of UNEP, pursuant to decision
15/24 adopted by UNEP’s Governing Council on 25 May 1989.
1.1 KEY COP DECISIONS ON THE BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT The Conference of the Parties is the Convention’s supreme body. It held its first
meeting (COP) in Nassau, the Bahamas, from 28 Nov – 9 Dec 1994. This meeting
focused on putting into place the process and mechanisms for supporting the
convention in the years to come. The Bahamas Ministerial Declaration confirmed
the convention as a treaty with a global vision based on common concern, mutual
reliance, and fair and equitable sharing of resources.
COP2, held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 6-19 November 1995, adopted practical
decisions aimed at encouraging action at the national level, with emphasis on policy
guidance. It also established a CHM to promote technical and scientific cooperation,
and it decided that the GEF would continue to operate the convention’s “financial
mechanisms” on an interim basis. Ministers adopted the Jakarta Mandate on Marine
a Coastal Biological Diversity lunching a global action programme on these
invaluable and endangered ecosystems. The Jakarta COP also established an
open-ended Ad-Hoc Working Group on Biosafety with a mandate to develop a
Biosafety Protocol to promote the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified
organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.
COP3 was hosted in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 4-15 November 1996. It
addressed agricultural biodiversity, indigenous knowledge, incentive measures for
the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity cooperation with other
biodiversity-related conventions, assessment of biological diversity, the relationship
between forests and biodiversity, the need for additional financial resources for the
implementation of the convention and other issues.
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COP4 was held in Bratislava, Slovakia from 4-15 May 1998. It addressed the major
challenge for programme of work to balance the holistic and integrative approach
demanded by the convention, with the need to follow a sufficiently focused agenda
that can demonstrate concrete progress. Thus it adopted a thematic approach to
organizing its work and established four thematic programmes:
a) Marine and coastal biodiversity (decision IV/5)
b) Forest biodiversity (decision IV/7)
c) Biodiversity of inland water ecosystems (decision IV/4), and
d) Programme for agricultural biodiversity (decision III/II and IV/6).
COP 5 was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 15-26 May 2000.
1.2 THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY1.2.1 The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature on 5 June
1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,
known as the Rio Earth Summit, and signed by over 150 heads of state. The
convention is an international legally binding treaty that now has 187 Parties.
By ratifying the Convention, the Parties have committed themselves to
measures aimed at achieving the three objectives of the Convention –
Conservation, Sustainable Use and Sharing of Benefits. 1.2.2 THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF COMPONENTS OF BIODIVERSITY
The convention, under this goal, promotes measures to ensure that future
generations will continue to benefit economically and otherwise, from today’s
biological resources. It accepts that conservation and economic motivation
are reasons for action.
1.2.3 ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES AND THE FAIR AND EQUITABLE SHARING OF BENEFITS
Article 15 of the Convention recognizes the sovereign rights of states over
their natural resources, states that the authority to determine access to
genetic resources rests national governments, and this is subject to national
legislations. However, each contracting party is to create conditions to
facilitate access of genetic resources for environmentally sound uses by
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either other contracting parties and not to impose restrictions that run counter
to the objectives of the Convention. Parties that continue to provide access
are contending that corresponding benefits have not come from those
provided access. The Secretariat convened a meeting in Bonn, German to
discuss the matter. On this note, the Bonn Voluntary Guidelines on Access
and Benefit Sharing were developed. Developing countries maintain that the
Bonn Guidelines, being voluntary are not binding, and have therefore called
for a legally binding instrument on access and benefit sharing. To date, the
Conference of Parties has adopted five decisions specifically on access to
genetic resources at its second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth meetings.
1.2.4 CONVENTION TEXT, ARTICLES AND ANNEXES
As a framework convention, the CBD provides general guiding principles and
provisions that need to be translated into concrete actions and implemented
at various levels in accordance with Article 6 of the CBD. Although there is
no specific article in the CBD devoted directly to capacity-building, the
convention and its various conferences of parties (COP) in the treatment of
the items on the programme of work made pertinent references to the issue of
technical and scientific cooperation (Article 18(1), (2), (4) and (5) of the CBD
and the related issue of capacity building as one of the elements for the
successful implementation of the convention (decision 11/18, annex,
paragraph 4.
1.2.5 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CBD IN LIBERIA Liberia undertook studies in 2002 to determine the status and trends of
biodiversity in the country. The study identified gaps, areas of conflict and
overlapping, and developed a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
in 2003/2004 to provide a framework, which will guide the setting of
conservation priorities, channeling of investments, and building of the
necessary capacities for national implementation of the convention.
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The Liberian NBSAP initiative followed as much as possible, methodologies
in UNDP/GEF guidelines for country programs on Biological Diversity. It was
executed by the National Environmental Commission of Liberia (NECOLIB),
now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the guidance of the
Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs. A National Steering Committee
and a Planning Team comprising representatives from relevant government
and private institutions, civil society, and NGOs were constituted to provide
both policy and technical guidance to the process.
A team of national consultants from relevant institutions were identified to
handle specific issues covered in the study; including, agriculture, forestry,
geology and minerals, fisheries, wildlife, climate, water resources, population
and health, cultural and social issues, national legislations, international
conventions, government policies and expenditures on conservation and
economic values/benefits of biodiversity.
The data and information were obtained through literature review and
compilation of data from existing secondary sources in the country. Some
interviews were conducted with government officials, professionals and local
people. Field visits were also made to key places, such as botanical gardens,
research centers, and other areas of biodiversity significance.
Two national and four regional workshops were held (dates) to discuss the
reports at various levels. Provincial, district, and traditional leaders were invited
to these workshops. The stocktaking and inventory exercise was conducted
with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNDP). Logistical support and
technical assistance were also provided to the project by UNDP. UNMIL
provided security and transportation for the regional meetings/consultations.
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2.0 RATIONALE FOR NATIONAL CAPACITY SELF-ASSESSEMENT In May 1999, the Global environment Facility (GEF) recognized the fact that
although some 40% of the world’s economy is derived directly from biological
diversity, humanity is pushing species to extinction faster than at any time, and
thus the increasing importance of assisting capacity-building initiatives in
developing countries and countries with economies in transition to address
global environmental impact issues. Along with UNDP, it approved a capacity
development initiative (CDI) in 2001.
The GEF council agreed that while further consultations should be considered
on the elements of strategic collaboration and the framework with parties to the
three thematic conventions, (CBD, UNFCCC and UNCCD), inter-governmental,
and non-governmental organizations, and processes should be instituted so
that the self-assessment of country level capacity would begin.
The main goal of the NCSA is to identify, through a country-driven process,
gaps, and priority needs for capacity building at various levels (systemic,
institutional and individual), to help implement global conventions, specifically
the CBD, UNCCD and UNFCCC. It has specific objectives, which include:
o To identify, confirm or review priority issues for action within the
thematic areas of biodiversity, climate change, and desertification/land
degradation;
o To catalyze targeted and coordinated actions and request for future
external funding assistance;
o To explore related capacity needs within and across the three thematic
areas; and,
o To link action to the broader national environmental management and
sustainable development framework.
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The Government of Liberia since the ratification of the CBD has held several
forums to identify capacity needs, catalogue major environmental problems in
the country for the implementation of the convention. Inventories and
stocktaking over the past two years, including workshops, symposiums, and
other activities conducted indicated that Liberia’s capacity to implement
programs in biological diversity and the other thematic areas reveal the below
constraints common to most biodiversity institutions:
- inadequate public education;
- the current focus of awareness until recently has been on
bushmeat and the conservation of protected areas;
- information collection, processing and sharing is almost totally
lacking;
- lack of biodiversity assessment/monitoring programmes and
systems;
- low capacities of public institutions, private sector, NGOs, CBOs,
and other agencies for the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity;
- lack of adequate biodiversity consideration in sectoral policies and
legislations. i.e. policies are either weak or incomprehensive;
- lack of basic facilities and infrastructures;
- low level of public participation;
- inadequate trained personnel and misplacement of available
personnel;
- inadequate participation of women and the elderly in biodiversity
issues;
- lack of coordination and cohesion
- poverty/ignorance
- lack of taxonomic knowledge;
- no comprehensive baseline data criteria and indicators against
which biodiversity can be measured and monitored;
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- lack of political will;
- the major training institution, the College of Agriculture and Forestry
(CAFUL) of the University of Liberia does not have a program in
Biodiversity. It does, however, process candidates through
undergraduate programs in Agriculture and Forestry.
Despite indications that there exists a serious capacity shortfall relative to
environmental management in Liberia, the country has not conducted any in-
depth assessment to determine the capacity needs in key areas, the
opportunities for synergistic and crosscutting capacity building, approaches
and projects between different sectors of the environment. The NCSA
exercise, therefore, offers Liberia the best and excellent opportunity to assess
its capacity needs, relevant to the thematic areas and crosscutting issues,
and to access funding assistance to enhance capacity development.
Liberia believes that these on-going programs and projects offer excellent
opportunity to the NCSA process to assess her capacity needs in order to
realize the objectives of sustainable development, while ensuring that there
will be no duplication of efforts, rather to use existing structures and
arrangements for the effective use and allocation of resources.
2.1 METHODOLOGY FOR NCSA STOCKTAKING INITIATIVE
The inventory and stocktaking exercises for the NCSA project for biodiversity
management and its sustainable use was largely based on the strategy
deployed for the NBSAP in 2002. It was consultative and participatory,
involving stakeholders at all levels, which led to the consensus on the project.
For the present national capacity self-assessment exercise, it began with the
appointment of a project coordinator, administrative support staff, followed by
the establishment of the National Coordinating Committee and identification
of resource persons in June 2004, and the commissioning of thematic teams.
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Terms of reference were developed for consultants and thematic teams, and
on July 1, 2004, the project was officially launched.
To facilitate the exercise, questionnaires were developed on crosscutting
issues like capacity building, policy, legislative and institutional status,
identification and monitoring of biodiversity, including taxonomy, incentive
measures, sustainable use of biodiversity, research and training, public
awareness and education, biosafety and biotechnology, alien and invasive
species, and access and benefit sharing.
The questionnaires were sent to individuals and sectoral institutions, NGOs,
CBOs, and monitored by the consultants and project coordinator. Profiles of
key institutions were obtained. The profiles institutional roles, responsibilities,
mandates and capacity needs, as well as policy and administrative
arrangements in place to implement sectoral projects and programmes.
The following institutions received questionnaires and submitted/provided
relevant data to the consultant:
1. Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy
2. Ministry of Agriculture
3. Ministry of Planning & Economic Affairs
4. Ministry of Health & Social Welfare
5. Forestry Development Authority
6. Food & Agriculture Organization
7. Environmental Protection Agency
8. Conservation International
9. Fauna & Flora
10. Envirolink Liberia Ltd
11. Pollution Control Association of Liberia
12. Cuttington University College
13. Society of Liberian Foresters
14. Grand Gedeh Community Servant Association
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15. Liberia Indigenous Forum for the Environment (LIFE)
16. United Methodist University
17. Don Bosco Polythenic
18. Save My Future Foundation
19. Society for the Conservation of Nature 20. Ministry of Internal Affairs
21. Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism
Responses from questionnaires were collated and the stocktaking
results compiled and discussed at national and regional workshops.
3.0 THEMATIC ASSESSMENT: SITUATION ANALYSIS 3.1 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Conservation and management of biodiversity in Liberia cuts across various
stakeholder institutions operating in the areas of agriculture, forestry, and
natural resources management. These include the Environmental Protection
Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and its technical divisions, Ministry of Lands,
Mines, and Energy and its technical units, Ministries of Rural Development
and Internal Affairs, College of Agriculture & Forestry, University of Liberia,
Cuttington University College, technical units of the Ministry of Health &
Social Welfare and the Monrovia City Corporation.
GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES/AGENCIES a) THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
This Ministry plans, administers, executes, manages, and supervises
agriculture programs and provides extension services; trains local farmers in
improved cultural practices and supplies farm inputs to enhance food security.
PLANT/ANIMAL QUARANTINE DIVISION This division is responsible for prohibiting the importation into and out of
Liberia plants and animals which are poisonous, noxious, or which may be
infested or infected by harmful pests or diseases or which shall have been
14
exposed to such pests or diseases, except for scientific, medical,
experimental or educational purposes.
NATIONAL LIVESTOCK BUREAU This Bureau is responsible to provide the necessary administration and
coordination to the development of animal husbandry resources. It is
engaged in a national campaign to increase livestock production by the use of
artificial insemination.
a) MINISTRY OF LANDS, MINES & ENERGY This Ministry has the statutory responsibility for the development of mineral,
water and energy resources of the country, and the administration of its land.
It is in charge of land surveys in all parts of the country; coordinates the
activities of miners (gold and diamonds), including the granting of operational
licenses; regulates beach sand mining and works along with the Ministry of
Agriculture and the University of Liberia to conduct training and research on
land rehabilitation.
FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Responsible for sustainable management of forest and its related resources.
Prepares long and middle-range plans in the forestry sector as well as
preparing forestry policy, law, and administration; monitors adherence to
forest legislation and concession agreements, assess forestry fees, evaluates
investment proposals, executes reforestation programmes and forest
research and training, monitors activities of timber companies. It manages
protected area programs and administers wildlife and national parks.
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT Integrates developmental activities of rural programs. It is in charge of farms
to market and feeder roads. Provides safe drinking water to rural
communities; involved in rural planning, low-cost housing projects for the
acceleration of rural development, including rural energy generating activities.
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY It Is the principal authority for the management of the environment, and is
mandated to coordinate, monitor, supervise, and consult with relevant
stakeholders on all activities in the protection of the environment and
sustainable use of natural resources, promotes environmental awareness,
implements the National Environment Policy, the Environmental Protection
and Management Law, and oversees the implementation of relevant
international environment conventions.
MINISTRY OF PLANNING & ECONOMIC AFFAIRS The Ministry serves as the direct link between implementing
ministries/agencies of government, NGOs, PVOs and the international
community. It provides technical guidance to all GOL agencies in the
preparation of development programs and projects; and reviews proposals for
new development programs and projects in view of resources available, and
makes recommendation to the national planning council. It also reviews
progress made on programs and projects, which have been adopted, initiating
special investigation into the execution of those programs and projects, and
reports findings/recommendations to the national planning council.
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Responsible to administer the affairs of all government functionaries within
local and urban areas of Liberia. Guarded by the revised Interior Regulations
of Liberia, the Ministry supervises all county superintendents, and oversees
the activities of local government bodies, such as districts, chiefdoms and
clans.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH & SOCIAL WELFARE The Ministry coordinates and administers the general health services of the
country; ensures the availability of medical supplies, collects health and vital
16
statistics, and conducts disease surveillance, public education and awareness
and provision of curative and preventive services.
MONROVIA CITY CORPORATION A legislative act creating the corporation gives it all municipal rights, powers
and authorities, including enforcement of city ordinances, management of
municipal wastes, and recreation.
LIBERIA WATER & SEWER CORPORATION Responsible to plan, execute, administer, manage and supervise the
generation and distribution of water to the public. Provides services
concerning the sanitary disposal of wastes, and maintains water and sewage
facilities. It rehabilitates water and sewer facilities throughout Liberia and
improves and expands services to meet the needs of all residents.
BUREAU OF MARITIME AFFAIRS This Bureau is in charge of Liberia’s Maritime program, with much of its
activities directed at ship registry, conventions and protocols.
LIBERIA ELECTRICITY CORPORATION This Corporation is responsible to generate, transmit, distribute and sell
electricity at economically/reasonable tariff throughout Liberia. It plans,
executes, administers, manages and supervises the generation and
distribution of electricity.
LIBERIA PETROLEUM REFINING CORPORATION Plans, executes, administers, manages, and mandated to process crude oil
into finished products for the local market. It ensures the availability of
petroleum products.
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LIBERIA MINING CORPORATION (LIMINCO) The Liberia Mining Company took over from LAMCO JV Operating Company,
and is in charge of the facilities of that company. LIMINCO is therefore
responsible for any negotiation regarding the exploration of Mount Nimba,
and future investment of the massif.
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS A fairly large number of NGOs implement projects that impact directly on
biological diversity and natural resources. Key among them are:
SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE OF LIBERIA (SCNL)
SCNL was established in 1986, and it is the pioneer conservation NGO in the
country. It advocates for the conservation of forests and associated
resources, especially wildlife. The society has also advocated for the creation
of protected areas and is involved in bio-monitoring and socio-economic
surveys.
SAVE MY FUTURE FOUNDATION (SAMFU)
SAMFU gathers and disseminates information on the activities of multinational
corporations operating in Liberia, especially, those working in the extractive industry.
It is also involved with the survey of sea turtles LIBERIA INDIGENOUS FORUM ON THE ENVIRONMENT (LIFE)
LIFE works with local communities to ensure that traditional knowledge is
respected and maintained in Liberia. It has been investigating the state of
timber species that are considered threatened or endangered. It seeks to
contribute to sustainable timber management and benefit sharing by
communities in the country
POLLUTION CONTROL ASSOCIATION OF LIBERIA (POCAL)
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POCAL is involved in advocacy for waste disposal and management.
Organizes and supports nature and drama clubs in schools and communities.
It has established a botanical garden in Johnsonville, Montserrado County.
FARMERS ASSOCIATED TO CONSERVE THE ENVIRONMENT (FACE)
FACE is involved in seed rice multiplication and mangrove conservation. Its
focus is to promote stable, modern farming systems in order to improve food
production and enhance the natural environment.
GREEN ADVOCATES
Established by a group of lawyers in 2000, it strives through a consortium of
lawyers and other professionals to protect the environment. Works with
stakeholder groups to promote environmental protection, through the
provision of primary legal services and support to green groups and parties
who suffer environmental inequity. It also advocates for appropriate
legislations.
LIBERIA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (LCDF)
LCDF implements short and long-term community integrated development
projects in conjunction with local communities to enable them alleviate
poverty and ensure sustained improvements in their quality of life. It
organizes business management training programs, micro-credit, intensive
agricultural programs, upgrades health and sanitation in communities and
provides education to the disadvantaged/under privileged.
SOCIETY OF LIBERIAN FORESTERS (SOLF) Promotes wise use of forest resources; provides consultancy to private forest
owners and concessionaries, works with other institutions to promote the
conservation of forest resources, and create awareness about the economic,
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environmental, aesthetic, cultural and recreational values of forest resources
through research and publication.
ENVIRONLINK LIBERIA LTD. Links peoples and communities to the environment through advocacy,
awareness, education, training and research. Conducts environmental
Impact Assessment in collaboration with the EPA and other environmental
institutions.
ACTION FOR GREATER HARVEST (AGRHA) AGRHA ensures sustainable food security for rural Liberian households. It
has a vision to see a Liberia where rural Liberian households create
sustainable food security for themselves.
GRAND GEDEH COMMUNITY SERVANT ASSOCIATION (GECOMSA) GECOMSA is based in the Southeastern Region. It is the forerunner of
community-based initiatives to promote sustainable management of wildlife
through sustained awareness campaign and identification of alternative
programs. Conducts campaign on bushmeat consumption in the
Southeastern Region.
INTERNATIONAL NGOS CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL (CI)
Conservation International uses science, economics, policy and community
involvement to promote biodiversity conservation in tropical rainforests and
other endangered ecosystems worldwide. Conservation International is a
field-based, non-profit organization that protects earth’s biologically richest
areas.
FAUNA & FLORA INTERNATIONAL (FFI)
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FFI acts to conserve threatened species and ecosystems worldwide based on
sound science and taking account human needs. It has been working in
Liberia since 1998, contributing to the restart of the SAPO National Park. FFI
is currently implementing the project: A Re-Assessment of Forest Cover,
Updating of Protected Forest Systems and Improvement of Environmental
Information for Liberia with support from European Commission, CI, and
CEPF.
FOREST PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL Forest partners International is involved with bushmeat survey and the
management of the Sapo National Park in sinoe County.
BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL
Is responsible for collecting and compiling data of various bird species in
Liberia. Its work underlines the ornithological importance of Liberia’s forests
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS University of Liberia
The University attracts many hard-core professionals in the Colleges of Science
& Technology, Agriculture and Forestry and the College of Business and
Public Administration. College of Science Offers first degree in biology,
zoology, chemistry, geology, physics, engineering and mathematics. The
College of Agriculture/Forestry offers bachelor of science degree in agronomy,
general agriculture, general forestry, wood science and technology, home and
community development. The Colleges of Medicine, Liberal and Fine Arts,
Business and Public Administration offer bachelor’s of Art degree in medicine,
fine arts, accounting, management, economics and public administration. The
College of Regional Planning offers master’s degree in Regional Planning.
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CUTTINGTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE (CUC) The CUC based in Central Liberia, offers bachelor’s degree in general science,
biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Other relevant courses offered in
the area of biodiversity are agriculture and integrated rural development.
PRIVATE SECTOR
LIBERIA AGRICULTURE COMPANY (LAC)
LAC operates a rubber plantation in Grand Bassa County. LAC has
developed pasturelands and was once involved in raising cattle. It develops
rubber clones for its own use.
FIRESTONE PLANTATIONS COMPANY (FPCO)
Established in 1926, Firestone operates the world’s single largest rubber
plantation in Harbel, Margibi County, Liberia. Firestone was once involved in
botanical research. Establishes nursery for rubber clones, and operates the
largest private hydroelectric plant in the country.
STRUCTURES FOR BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT
The Environmental Protection Agency is by law responsible to coordinate
environmental management and works in collaboration with stakeholder
institutions and government. Other Institutions, such as the academic,
scientific, private, and NGOs contribute to biodiversity management. The
EPA, FDA, MLME, and MOA have decentralized their activities at county and
district levels in some of the fifteen subdivisions of the country.
LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURES
EPA:-The Environmental Protection Agency has the mandate to establish
County Environmental Committees, appoints County and District
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Environmental Officers who will be responsible for monitoring and compliance
with environmental policies and laws.
FDA:- The Forestry Development employs regional and district foresters,
managers, rangers and scalers, etc in the management of forest resources.
MLME:- Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy employ mining agents in every
concession and mining areas.
MOA:- Ministry of Agriculture deploys agriculture officers to assist local
farmers cope with modern techniques and farming practices.
All of these institutions provide certain administrative, economic, and social
services in order to satisfy the aspiration of local communities, consistent with
national policies.
POLICY LEVEL COORDINATION STRUCTURES The policy level coordination and collaboration framework for natural
resources management comprise the Policy Council, Board of Directors, and
County Environmental Committees.
POLICY COUNCIL Established by an act of the National Legislature on November 26, 2002, the
Policy Council has a membership that cuts across all sectors of society and
includes representatives of ministries and agencies of government, civil
society, legislators, religious community, legal experts, and the marketing
association. It is responsible for policy formulation and direction, and sets
priorities for national goals and objectives for environmental governance.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Director is an eight to ten member committee responsible for
overall supervision of activities of the agency. Specifically, it is responsible to
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oversee the successful implementation and operation of environmental policy
and programs, interpret policies, review and approve the agency’s strategic
plans.
THE EXISTING POLICY ENVIRONMENT Liberia’s micro-economic framework remains essentially a free market
economy with the primary aim of creating an enabling environment for a
private sectore-led growth development strategy. The government continues
to maintain a structural adjustment and fiscal policies, a market-determined
exchange rate, and a liberalized commodity market. However, the underlying
structural inadequacies and weaknesses of the postwar economy continue to
limit private sector involvement.
In response to these and other socio-politico developments, and the need for
a national sense of purpose, the Government of Liberia in 2005, launched the
Millennium Development Goals for Liberia, placing particular emphasis on
Goal No. 7 on Environmental Sustainability. The vision statement of the
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of Liberia also committed
biodiversity management to the millennium development goals of Liberia. The
government’s macro-economic policy objectives include:
a. Postwar Reconstruction Agenda - education - health - agriculture - industry - commerce - infrastructure
b. Private and Public Sector Development
- expansion of macro-economic policy - suitable job creation - ensuring higher standard of living and an improved quality of life for
all - encourage Liberian capital mobilization - expansion of property ownership
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AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY ENVIRONMENT
The broad national objectives and priorities for development of the Agriculture
and Natural Resources Sectors, including sustained food security are to
restore the vital role of the Agriculture sector as the driving force for economic
development; adequacy of food supply, stability of production and access to
food by all sectors of the populace; develop and disseminate improved
technologies into the farming systems, and develop field tested interventions.
The objectives include:
- Expansion of agriculture as a principal base for self-sustainable
economic development
- stimulating increase in productivity, employment and income for the
Liberian farmers to strengthen the capacity of extension workers,
farmers and farmers’ organization
- adequate protection of human, fauna & flora, their biological
communities and habitats, harmful impacts to preserve biodiversity
- ensuring sound management of natural resources and the
environment
- maintaining ecosystem and ecological processes essential for the
functioning of the biosphere.
a) HORTICULTURAL POLICY OBJECTIVES
- to increase commercial fruit and vegetable production in order to
augment rural cash income and earn foreign exchange;
- to promote increased consumption of fruits and vegetables in order
to raise the nutritional status of the population;
- to identify the efficient use of the human, land and water resources
in order to reduce rural unemployment and soil degradation and
enhance land productivity especially during the dry season;
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- to create adequate institutional capacities for the timely provision of
inputs and technical services for commercialization of small scale
collective vegetable production.
b) LIVESTOCK POLICY OBJECTIVES
- to contribute to the diversification of agriculture and income by
improving the livestock sector and to better meet dietary
requirements and maximize foreign exchange earnings;
- to integrate crop and livestock production systems in order to
reduce environmental degradation and improve soil fertility while
enhancing availability of supplementary feed from crop residues.
c) FISHERIES POLICY OBJECTIVES
- to make optimal use of both the marine riverine and potential
aquaculture fishery resources of the country;
- to ensure that fish and fish products are readily and widely
available in all parts of the country;
- to provide a conducive investment environment to attract more
private sector operators;
LAND AND WATER RESOURCES PLICY OBJECTIVES - to strengthen the national capacity to better understand climatic
and weather patterns as a basis for providing information to
agricultural producers;
- to make optimum use of both surface and groundwater resources
for agriculture and domestic purposes;
- to promote the rational use of available water resources and to
improve and maintain their quality.
FORESTRY POLICY OBJECTIVES
- to protect the natural fauna and flora of the forest ecosystem;
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- to maintain stability of river banks;
- to develop the economic use of forest products by local industries;
- to provide an adequate supply of wood and forest products for
domestic and industrial uses;
- to reserve, develop and maintain 30% of the land area, and to
ensure that it is managed and protected according to acceptable
management principles.
WILDLIFE POLICY OBJECTIVES
- to develop respect for and increase awareness of wildlife, and to
practically demonstrate that wildlife conservation is another viable
land use option that can contribute significantly towards national
economic development;
- to encourage private sector investment in biodiversity and facilitate
community biodiversity conservation and utilization schemes.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY FRAMEWORK Liberia is yet to develop a National Environmental Action Plan, but it has
developed a National Environmental Policy. The Policy was necessary to
address the issues of lack of coordination and fragmentation of environmental
programs by sectoral institutions. The government’s environmental policy
emphasizes the harmonization of sectoral policies and sustainable economic
growth and development consistent with the improvement of the quality of life of
this generation without compromising the rights of the future generations. The
environmental policy objectives include:
- to conserve and promote the rational use of natural resources for
the benefit of the present and future generations;
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- to protect and improve the health and quality of life for all Liberians
through sound environmental management;
- to preserve and restore the equilibrium of ecological processes;
- to harmonize/strengthen the institutional framework for
environmental coordination and management at national, regional,
and global levels;
- to increase environmental awareness and understanding of the
public and bring about effective public participation and community
involvement;
- to accelerate the adoption of alternative sources of renewable
energy;
- to ensure the effective integration of environmental considerations
in all development strategies and related activities.
FOOD SECURITY POLICY OBJECTIVES
- to improve the nutritional status of the population generally, and rural areas
in particular through increased domestic production of varieties of food, to
increase the consumption of locally produced variability in food prices
overtime.
EXISTING PROGRQMMES & RESPONSIBILITIES Biodiversity conservation, management and sustainable use programmes in Liberia
include the following:
a. WILDLIFE PROTECTED AREAS The Wildlife and National Parks Law came into force in 1988. This law
compliments the Protected Forest Area Network Law, which was passed along
with the Nimba Nature Reserve and Sapo Park Act in October 2003. The
Forestry Development authority (FDA) is responsible for Protected Areas and
National Parks. There are still five proposed protected areas awaiting approval
from Government: They are:
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ESTIMATE COVERAGE
ESTIMATED COVERAGE OF ADDITONAL AREAS
NAME PROPOSED DESIGNATION
HECTARES ACRES HECTARES ACRES
PROPOSED TIME FRAME FOR GAZZETTING
Lake Piso Nature
Reserve
30,766 76,025 - - July, 2002
Cestos/Sankwein National Park 91,698 226,595 - - July, 2002
Wolozezi National Park 80,001 197,690 December,
2002
Grebo National Park - - 260,000 643,00 July, 2002
Wenegizi National Park 71,422 176,491 - - December,
2002
SAPO NATIONAL PARK The Sapo National Park was created by a PRC Decree No.73 in 1983. It has been
the only protected area in the country until recently. The park is being managed
by FDA, with technical assistance from SCNL and support from CI and FFI. Fauna
& Flora International, in addition to its support to SCNL for technical support to
manage the park, is currently undertaking a communal forest program which will
give communities around the park privilege to make decisions about both the
commercial and communal usages of forests /and other natural resources within and
in the vicinity of the Sapo National Park.
The Liberia Forest Re-assessment Project has used Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) and remote sensing to provisionally map out many potential national
parks and nature reserves. This initiative is also intended to assist decision-makers
find appropriate balance between the commercial, communal, and conservation
uses of Liberia’s forest resources and their management. It is being done by FFI,
FDA, MPEA and other partners. The overall objective is to establish the necessary
information, tools and policy environment for effective and sustainable biodiversity
and forest management in Liberia. The three main components of the assessment
are:
(1) The analysis of satellite imagery from the mid 1980s-2001 to reassess the extent of changes in the quality of Liberia’s forest cover;
29
(2) A review of Liberian forest policy, considering what policies, laws, and regulations exists, classification and management of the forests; and
(3) Field surveys of significant forest blocks to obtain adequate socio-
economic and biological data. NBSAP PROJECT Liberia has just completed the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
(NBSAP), which began in mid 2002. The document examined all aspects of
biological diversity conservation and management in the country. The NBSAP was
officially launched on October 28, 2004, and is now being used as a reference
document across the country. It was implemented by UNDP executed by the EPA
with support from GEF.
The National Capacity Self-Assessment Initiative, which is ongoing, is to assess
individual, institutional and systemic capacities in the areas of biodiversity, climate
change and Land Degradation; the NCSA is to a large extent complimenting the
NBSAP.
BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT The National Biosafety Framework Development Project commenced (August 2002)
almost Simultaneously with the NBSAP, which commenced September 2002. The
Project which was officially closed in October 2004 was designed to primarily
establish means to regulate, manage and/or control the risk associated with the use
and release of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) resulting from biotechnology,
which are likely to have adverse environmental impacts that could affect the
conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and the risk to human
health. This project is executed by the Environmental Protection Agency and
implemented by UNEP with support from GEF.
OTHER SIGNIFICANCE ACTIVITIES
ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA This Organization is mainstreaming biodiversity conservation and protection issues
into UNHCR operations in Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia. It includes technical
30
capacity building of UNHCR implementing partners, local NGOs, and CBOs in
environmental management, forest and domestic energy conservation, and
community environmental awareness, and school environmental education
programmes. EFA has established demonstration sites for tree nurseries and
ecostove production in Brewersville, Montserrado County and is expected to include
six other counties (Bong, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Cape Mount, Bomi, and Maryland).
EFA has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the EPA and FDA as
implementing partners. It is being (EFA) supported by UNHCR and other donors.
The main thrust of EFA’s programme is biodiversity and environmental restoration in
IDPs camps and refugee returning areas.
MAJOR STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS/INSTITUTIONS Biodiversity conservation is a cross-sectoral responsibility involving both public and
private institutions. These are categorized below:
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 1. Environmental Protection Agency 2. Forestry Development Authority
3. Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy
4. Ministry of Internal Affairs
5. Ministry of Rural Development
6. Central Agriculture Research Institute
7. Bureau of Maritime Affairs
8. Ministry of Public Works
9. Ministry of Planning & Economic Affairs
10. Ministry of Information, Culture & Tourism
11. Liberia Water & Sewer Corporation
12. Monrovia, City Corporation
13. Liberia Electricity Corporation
14. Ministry of Health & Social Welfare
15. University of Liberia
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PRIVATE SECTOR 1. Firestone Plantations Company 2. Liberia Agriculture Company 3. Liberia Institute for Biomedical Research 4. Various Logging Companies 5. Forest Partners International
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
6. Conservation International 7. Fauna & Flora International 8. Society for the Conservation of Nature 9. Birdlife International 10. Environmental Foundation for Africa 11. Lutheran World Service 12. World Vision 13. CARITAS 14. Pollution Control Association of Liberia 15. Liberia Indigenous Forum for the Environment 16. Farmers Associated to Conserve the Environment 17. Green Advocates 18. Environlink, Liberia Ltd 19. Liberia Community Development Foundation 20. Save My Future Foundation 21. GECOMSA 22. CEEB
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS University of Liberia Cuttington University College Don Bosco Polytechnic EXISTING INFORMATION AND DATABASE The central pool for environmental and biodiversity information is located at the
Environmental Protection Agency, which is the coordinating and supervising
institution for all environment related activities. In addition, the NBSAP and the
Biosafety Framework Projects are to implement the CHM and BCH programmes
respectively. The CHM will contain information on the status and trends of
biodiversity in Liberia, and management plans; while the BCH will provide
information on the nature and trend of biotechnology and biosafety programs in
Liberia.
INSTRUMENTS, POLICIES, AND/OR NON-REGULATORY MECHANISMS FOR BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT & SUSTAINABLE USE
32
Environmental governance and protection, and the need for the conservation and
sustainable us e of natural resources were not a high national priority before 1992,
when the World Summit on the Environment and Sustainable Development took
place in Rio de Janeiro.
Between 1840 and 1960, the country was still covered with vast areas of closed
canopy forests with healthy habitats supporting numerous wildlife species. In 1960
official commercial logging began in Liberia. The level of natural resource
destruction was insignificant, as the human population was low, and thus the
population was able to satisfy its domestic needs from the environment and its
resources without necessarily destroying it. Although the level of harvesting of forest
resources increased between 1980 and the present, only some major legislations
existed and governed environmental issues and concerns in the country. They
include: The Forestry & Wildlife Law (1988), the New Mining Law ( 2000), the Public
Health & Safety Laws (1956/1976), and the City Ordinances of the Monrovia City
Corporation (1975); New National Forestry Law (2002); Environment Protection and
Management Law (2002).
The availability of legislations, policies and other non-regulatory mechanisms did not
guarantee a secured environment, as situation worsened between 1989 and 2004.
By 1999, the Government of Liberia showed a sign of commitment by establishing
the National Environmental Commission of Liberia to have executive authority over
all programs and activities relating to environmental governance/management in the
country.
To further foster its commitment, the government strengthened sectoral institutions
responsible for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, including,
FDA, MOA and MLME. In addition, the EPA was created by an Act of Legislature.
Thus the development of national environmental legislative framework can be
retraced through three distinct stages: The period before 1960; the period from
1960-1980 and from 1980 to 2003.
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THE PRE-1960 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK The concept of private land ownership and the right to exclude and restrict others
from the use and benefit of natural resources did not exist among the indigenous
tribes. All natural resources were communally held. Access and rights to them were
regulated under customary norms and codes, and entailed obligations and
responsibilities on the part of the user. The chief, through the council of elders
allocated land to residents.
The tribal and customary codes also created protected zones. Areas of biological,
cultural, customary, historic, physical, scenic and traditional significance were highly
prohibited/restricted and more often designated as shrine and sacred groves.
Animal and plant species, which were of cultural, customary, medicinal and herbal
value or on the verge of depletion, were designated as tribal taboos to ensure their
survival. The codes were enforced with rigor and punishments were meted out to
offenders.
Customary and traditional codes were not restricted to natural resources
management and the protection of ecosystems. Health and environmental
sanitation were important component of these codes. In rural villages, sites are
established for household waste disposal and burial. The lower portions of creeks
are used for laundry purposes and for swimming. The upper side is usually set
aside for cooking and drinking purposes.
THE 1960-1980 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK Prior to 1960, the Customary Laws and the Public Health Safety Laws of Liberia first
enacted in 1956 and revised in 1976, were the available environmental legislations.
The Ministry of Interior (Now Internal Affairs) had the Zoning Laws (1957). Also in
the fifties, (1956), the Natural Resources Law was enacted. In 1958, the Zoning Act
for the City of Monrovia was adopted. Other legislations followed in succession,
including Public Safety Law, 1968, Vehicle & Traffic Law, 1972, and Acts
Establishing Sectoral Institutions on the Environment, including the 1953 Act
34
creating the Bureau of Forest and Wildlife and the 1976 Act creating the Forestry
Development Authority.
The Public Health Law covered issues such as public nuisance, adulterated foods,
pollution of swamps, rivers, and drinking sources, sewage systems, standards for
food & beverages, occupational health and chemical safety, vital statistics, disease
surveillance, quarantine, and control of communicable diseases. Although the law
prohibits disposal of wastes and other substances into the waters of the Republic of
Liberia, which include rivers and swamps, there is very little evidence of the
enforcement of its provisions.
The Customary Laws as mentioned earlier was the basis for environmental
governance and management among traditional tribes, which encouraged
conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. These laws sought to
protect traditional shrines, sacred groves, communal lands, etc. It laid emphasis on
equitable distribution of the resources and regularly enforced norms and customary
codes of conduct regarding management and utilization of resources.
1980-2003 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK During this period, environmental laws and policies were gradually developed and improved in terms of legislation and sound policy pronouncements. For example:
1968 – The forestry sector witnessed the establishment of the Bureau of Forest Conservation, which was mandated to create protected areas, i.e, national parks, national forests, native reserves, communal forests, etc.
1976 – Marked the advent of the Forestry Development Authority as an autonomous agency of government to ensure sustainable management of Liberia’s forest resources.
1980 – Liberia Water & Sanitation Board established by government.
1983 - Creation of the Sapo National Park as well as the Division of National Parks & Wildlife under the FDA.
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Mar. 1983 – Liberia Water Resources Legislation and Administration enacted and established. 1999-2000 – The Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy develop a New Mineral & Mining Law. The New National Forestry Law of Liberia was crafted by the FDA.
2001 – Patent, copyright & Trade Mark Law by the Ministry of Commerce &
Industry. National Health Policy of Liberia developed by the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare.
2002/03 – The Act establishing the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Environmental Policy and the Environmental Protection and Management Law were enacted.
Oct. 2003 – Act for the establishment of the East Mount Nimba Nature
Reserve. Despite the development of laws, policies and regulations over the last two decades,
many gaps and deficiencies attend them. Existing regulations have focused on few
areas of the environment and natural resources; e.g. public health and sanitation,
fisheries, minerals, water conservation and forestry. Moreover, where primary laws
provide for secondary legislation (i.e regulations and guidelines), to consolidate its
principles, these either have not been formulated, or where they are available, are
found wanting.
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS Over the past decade, Liberia has acceded to, or ratified several international conventions relevant to natural resources management and environmental protection. They include:
a) Africa Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
b) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna &
Flora (CITES 1981);
c) Convention to Combat Desertification (1998). Liberia has submitted her first
national report on desertification to the convention secretariat. Her
geographic location does not place it in any serious desertification category.
Land degradation activities are, however, prevalent;
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d) Vienna convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1996), and the
Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer;
e) The Convention on Biological Diversity was ratified (2000).
f) In 2002, Liberia acceded to the:
- Convention on World Cultural and Natural Heritages;
- The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol;
- The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
(POPs);
- The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance,
especially as Waterfowl Habitat. This convention came into force
on 2 November 2003. Liberia presently has one site designated
Wetlands of International Importance (Lake Piso Wetlands)- Lake
Piso has a surface area of 76,091 hectares. The EPA also
submitted in June 2003 the Marshall Wetlands and the Cestos
Sankwein Wetlands, which are presently being reviewed by
RAMSAR Bureaus regional team for inclusion on the RAMSAR list.
- Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
PAST CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES Biodiversity conservation and management in Liberia currently cuts across various
sectoral institutions, including the Forestry Development Authority, Ministry of
Agriculture, Bureau of Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy, Ministry
of Health & Social Welfare, Ministry of Internal Affairs, University of Liberia, the
Environmental Protection Agency, etc. These institutions have varying capacities;
they lack adequate logistics, equipments, and manpower to fully execute their
mandates.
Past capacity initiatives under some of these institutions are as follows:
37
a) The Forestry Development Authority operated a forestry-training
institute in Western Liberia prior to the civil conflict. It was responsible for
training middle level forestry technicians
b) The Ministry of Agriculture operated the Central Agriculture Research
Institute (CARI) where technicians were trained to assist farmers in
modern techniques of farming practices;
c) The Ministry of Health trains environmental and occupational health
personnel amongst other professionals at the Tubman National
Institute of Medical Arts to address basic sanitation, pollution, waste
management, and food & water quality control issues;
d) The Bureau of Maritime Affairs operated the Maritime Training Institute
in Marshall City, Margibi County where technicians were trained;
e) The Environmental Protection Agency has been conducting series of
workshops to build capacity through projects assistance provided by
UNDP/UNEP/GEF. It trained thirty-one (31) persons in environmental
impact assessment (2001) two in 2003; and has developed a
curriculum to establish a College of Environmental Science at the
University of Liberia.
f) It continues to provide training in forestry, agriculture, agronomy and related
disciplines at the College of Agriculture & Forestry. Due to constraints, initiatives to
compile compendium of experts in each institution has been slow. The civil service
agency does not have current and accurate statistics of employees in each
institution.
THEMATIC PROFILE
38
Forests are fundamental to the Liberian society. They are a source of subsistence,
economic activity, and cultural identity for rural dwellers. They also provide
medicines, construction materials, fuel, food, and other commodities for sale. This
report classifies five ecosystems of biological significance as follows:
FOREST BIODIVERSITY It is believed that Liberia is the only country in West Africa that was once covered
entirely with rainforest. This cover is being reduced at the rate of 1-2% annually. To
date, more than 50% of the forests have been destroyed. The two remaining dense
forest areas are found in the northwestern and southeastern regions of the country,
separated and isolated from each other by a corridor extending from Monrovia to
Nimba County. They are further fragmented and dissected by advances of shifting
cultivation along existing roads and by the construction of logging paths. By the end
of the millennium, Liberia contained 42% of the Upper Guinea Forest of West Africa,
the largest portion possessed by a single country in the region.
Liberia’s forest ecosystem can today be divided into four classes: Primary dense
forests, climax secondary forests, secondary forest which has not reached climax
and other mixed vegetation.
This forest ecosystem is a major component of one of the biodiversity hotspots
identified globally by Conservation International. The Mount Nimba, Cestos-
Sankwein River Shed, Lofa-Mano, and Sapo National Park areas contain many
endemic species. These four areas are among the 14 centers of plant endemism
within the Upper Guinea Hotspot.
The 1960-1967 inventories put the attractive potential of matured timber at
80,000,000 cubic meters, and recommended a 25-year felling cycle for concession
areas. Sixty forest tree species are frequently harvested in Liberia, ten (10) of which
accounted for 67% of the total harvested volume of 2001. However, the extent of
forest cover removal does not match replacement. Up to about 480,000 acres
(192,000 hectares) of forestland is lost annually due to logging, shifting cultivation
39
and other activities. Government has been able to replant less than 27,000 acres
(10,927 hectares) since the inception of its reforestation programme in 1971.
AGRICULTURE BIODIVERSITY
The agro-ecosystem of Liberia contains four major zones, namely: the costal plain,
hilly zone, mountain and plateau zone, and the northern highland zone. Thirty
percent of the land area is arable, while 2.5% is pastureland.
The agricultural biodiversity of the nation encompasses rich fauna and flora
population which is characterized by domesticated plant and animal species, soil
micro-organisms, pollinators, pests, wild relatives of domesticated crops and
animals, as well as plant and animal genetic materials including varieties, hybrids,
and different types of germ plasm.
Major crops grown are rice, cassava, maize, cocoa, oil palm, coffee, rubber and
sugar cane. About 90% of the locally produced rice is grown upland. Most of the
upland soils are lateritic, acidic, infertile, and low in humus. The swamp soils are
comparatively better in nutrients and hummus; but are waterlogged from May to
October. Traditional farming with its low technologies still dominates the agriculture
sector. Livestock production in Liberia has always been the least prioritized as
compared to crops. It plays a minimum role in the agriculture industry. The high
annual importation of livestock and livestock products is indicative of this. Cattle,
goat, sheep, pig, rabbit, guinea pig, chicken, duck, and guinea fowl are the main
animals used in Liberia livestock agriculture. Although local breeds are well
adapted to the local conditions, their productive capacity is lower than the exotic
breeds. Local breeds have been recorded as producing stunted babies and the
maturity period is longer. Research in animal husbandry is very weak. Livestock
feeding housing and health are major problems in the sector.
AQUACULTURE/FISHERIES Aquaculture was established in Liberia in the early 1950s. Institutions involved in
aquaculture include the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI), Bong county
40
Agriculture Development Project (BCADP), and the Klay Agriculture Fishery. These
institutions were all functional in constructing breeding facilities and supplying local
indigenous fingerlings such as tilaphias and clarias to local fish farmers in
aquaculture production. Presently, they are all in ruins due to the civil crisis.
Although the Klay Fishery was rehabilitated by the Lutheran World Service in 2000,
it was later destroyed. Aquaculture production contributed immensely in providing
protein for rural families also contributed to poverty reduction.
Marine Fisheries account for most of the fish catch of the country. The continental
shelf provides habitat for various fishes such as tuna, shrimp, lobsters and fishes
with fins. It covers 70.000sq miles, but it is of irregular shape. Artisanal fisheries
cover about 20,000 km2 of fishing grounds. This sector accounts for a workforce of
10,000, including full, part-time, sports fishermen and fishmongers.
Although this sector accounted for up to 12% of GDP of the agriculture sector, and
accounted for 85% of the annual fish consumption, it was negatively impacted by the
civil crisis; thus in 2002, a reduction in the total annual marine catch was recorded.
The pelagic and some demersal fish species are being exploited. They include:
sardineelas, (sardinella maderenensis and sardinella aurita) club or Spanish makerel
(scomber japonicus), bronga (ethmalosa fimbriata) and anchory (engraulis
ecorcrasicolus). Species of the families caraugidae and thumidae are also recorded.
Other important demersal fish group exploited by marine artisanal fishermen belong
to the families sparidae, pomadasidae, scienidae and serranidae.
MOUNTAIN BIODIVERSITY There is very limited and scanty data on mountain ecosystems in Liberia. The
concept of conservation and sustainable use of mountain biological diversity is
recent and has not been extensive. Except for the rapid assessment of Mount
Nimba for the Tri-National Planning Meeting January 2002, no assessment has been
done specifically for the management of mountain ecosystems.
41
Despite the above, some of the mountains are known to possess mineral resources.
Four of these mountains have been exploited for iron ore. They are the Bong
Range, Mount Nimba, Bomi and Mano Mountains. There are also valuable plant
and animal species, which are representatives of biodiversity found in the tropical
rainforest regions of the world. Their status began to change for the worse when
mining, shifting agriculture, commercial logging, and uncontrolled burning
progressed in mountain communities.
WETLANDS AND MANGROVES Mangroves characterize the wetlands of Liberia, and cover a small area along the
coast from Cape Mesurado to Cape Palmas, at the edges of lagoons, riverbanks
and river estuaries and in widespread areas of swamps. Wetlands cover 0.5% (500
km-wide belt extending along the total length of the coastline) land surface of
Liberia. The most common mangrove species is Rhizophora racemoza; but six (6)
other species occur in the country. Mature mangroves, reaching heights up to 30m
were found along the lower Sankwein and neighboring rivers where species such as
Rhizophora harrisonii, Rhizophora mango, and avicennia occur together with
impressive tracts of pandanus. Except for few places in the central part of the
country, primary mangrove forest has been replaced by secondary ones. Much of
the mangrove destruction appears to be concentrated along the edges of creeks,
and particularly more widespread around the larger towns and cities, such as
Monrovia, Robertsport, Buchanan, Greenville and Harper. Mangroves are degraded
due to urban expansion, collection of fuel-wood and construction of makeshift homes
and establishment of unplanned human settlements.
COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY The coastline of Liberia is 560km (350 miles) long and about 58% of its population
lives along this coast. With a continental shelf of 14,894 km2 and a territorial sea of
up to 159,200 km2. It produces 7,616 metric tones of fish and 126 metric tones of
molluses and crustaceans annually. The coastline consists of swamp related
vegetation, which includes mangrove forests and savannah related vegetation,
extending up to 25 km inland. The coastal and marine environments are subjected
42
to a variety of pressures: erosion due to sand mining, oil pollution, waste dumps,
human settlement and the discharge of municipal waste water. Although fishing has
not exerted significant pressure on the fish population, no stock assessment has
been undertaken for the country to make informed decisions on the management
and utilizing of the resources.
FRESH WATER BIODIVERSITY Thirteen and a half (13.5%) percent of the nation’s total area is covered with water.
There are six (6) major rivers, which originate from mountains in the north and empty
into the Atlantic Ocean. They are the Cavalla, Mano, Lofa, St. John, Cestos and St.
Paul; but their potential for navigation is yet to be fully explored.
The ecosystem has great potential for fishing, but this potential is yet to be
developed. The aquatic ecosystem, freshwater as well as coastal wetlands and
near-shore marine communities are clearly affected by upstream changes in
terrestrial environments. There are about 166 species of freshwater fish which
provide about 65% of the protein needs of the country, and of this number, one
species, barbus trispoloides is endemic, and another species, oreochromis
macrochir was introduced. The remaining 164 are native species.
CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES Many issues were identified as crosscutting in the five (one national and four
regional) workshops held across the country recently. Some of these issues were
identified during the development of the NBSAP, and are now confirmed in the
NCSA process. Those identified include:
LEGAL INSTRUMENTS: POLICIES, LAWS, AND INSTITUTIONS
Laws and policies regulating the management of biodiversity and natural resources in
Liberia are inadequate. For instance, only forest biodiversity has adequate legislation; but
none for agriculture, mountain, coastal and marine, and inland waters biodiversity. There
are, however, scanty sectoral legislations, which do not adequately address the subject.
43
Moreover, legislations available do not cover new lessons learnt and new measures and
approaches to biodiversity and sustainable use of natural resources identified-since the CBD
came into force. Another problem noted during the workshops is that these laws are only on
the books and in the Capital City. Many sectoral workers in the provincial districts are not
abreast of these instruments, and in most cases, they are aware of their existence.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Capacity building for Liberia is to improve the abilities of individuals, institutions and
systems, to make and implement decisions, and perform functions in an effective,
efficient and sustainable manner. But, as the workshop results indicate, there is a
good level of human resources available for biodiversity management, however,
some key disciplines, such as taxonomy, siviculture, soil science, and other
disciplines are extremely inadequate. There is a need to develop these areas.
Furthermore, institutions and systems were impacted significantly during the civil
crisis. Presently, the Forestry Training Institute, the College of Agriculture &
Forestry was damaged, the Central Agriculture Research Institute, Liberia Institute
for Biomedical Research, Kpatawee Rice Development Project, BCADP, LCADP,
NCRDP and are all destroyed.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The conservation of biodiversity in Liberia has largely been the concern of sectoral
agencies of government. A few conservation NGOs like SCNL and POCAL have
been in the forefront of biodiversity conservation since the mid eighties. Later, after
RIO, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, many local NGOs began to
spring up. Today civil society groups, professional, associations, the private sector,
are performing in the sector. However, there is no policy governing
environmental/biodiversity oriented NGOs. Most NGOs lack the technical capability
to cope. Moreover, there’s need to decentralize biodiversity conservation to ensure
the participation of the rural populace where most of the biodiversity is located.
44
Respondents at the workshops agreed that since their livelihood depends on these
resources, it is essential to include them at all levels.
IDENTIFICATION/MONITORING
Effective conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is dependent on proper
identification and monitoring tools as recognized in Article 7 of the CBD, and recently
at workshops around the country. These tools help to assess the status and trends
of biodiversity, analyze threats and help to evaluate progress towards realizing the
conservation goals and objectives. Relevant data must be gathered on a regular
basis, and criteria and indicators need to be established against which the status,
needs and threats to biodiversity are measured.
As stated under past initiatives, the Liberia Forest Re-assessment initiatives by
Fauna & Flora International have been the only assessment program. There is a
need for legislations to address requirements for identifying and monitoring
biodiversity programmes. Apart from inadequacies in sectoral policies and laws, the
study also identified a general lack of taxonomic capacity at the national level for the
characterization, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. There is
therefore the need to build and/or strengthen national capacities to identify, assess,
and monitor on a regular basis, the nature, status and trends of the components of
biodiversity, based on strategies defined in the NBSAP.
ACCESS & BENEFIT SHARING Respondents at the various and consultations and workshops recognized the fact
that genetic resources are an important and valuable component of biodiversity and
access to these resources are a primary means of promoting benefit sharing. They
also recognized the fact that the results of bio-prospecting are never known by rural
dwellers, much more benefiting from any such initiative. For the Liberian situation,
benefit sharing would consider benefits that may be shared for collection of plant
specimens, royalties, data, technology, capacity building and joint research. Access
and Benefit Sharing is usually facilitated through legislative, administrative, or policy
measures at the national, local and sub-regional levels. For Liberia, sectoral
45
legislations like forestry, mining, fisheries, wildlife and water resources have not
adequately addressed these concerns.
SUSTAINABLE USE OF COMPONENTS OF BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity components in Liberia are used for different purposes and by different
users and sectors including agriculture, forestry, mining, industries, and others.
There are various sectoral and sub-sectoral policies, plans and programs, which
regulate the management and exploitation of biological resources in the country and
promote sustainable use of biodiversity. However, due to the isolated and
fragmented nature of these legislations and policies, their enforcement is often poor,
and too often biological resources are not harvested appropriately nor utilized
modestly and efficiently. As a result, the integration of biodiversity management
principles into national development planning is non-existent, and is a major
impediment to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. In other words,
biodiversity has not been valued in economic terms as a key national resource,
which requires regular monitoring and evaluation. The perception that biological
resources are public goods has encouraged illegal prospecting for rare and highly
valued biodiversity products without benefits to indigenous and local communities
who are stewards and custodians of these resources. This point was strongly
emphasized at the workshops.
BIODIVERSITY PLANNING The 2003 consultative report identified biodiversity planning, as one of the areas
where expertise is required for biodiversity management. Biodiversity Planning is
an important element highlighted by Article (6a) of the CBD. This article urges
parties to develop national biodiversity strategies and action plans. Prior to the
development of the NBSAP, comprehensive Biodiversity planning has been lacking
in Liberia. Although sectoral and sub-sectoral management plans were available,
they did not adapt an integrated planning and management approach.
46
Though the Environmental Protection and Management Law and the NBSAP are
both advocating for the integration of biodiversity into sectoral and cross-sectoral
policies, plans, and programmes as required by Article (6) of the CBD,
implementation in the practical sense is still far fetched.
INCENTIVE MEASURES An incentive is an economic or legal instrument, designed to encourage beneficial
activities and to discourage harmful practices. The Environmental Protection and
Management Law does not provide for incentive measures. Explicit policy, strategy
or programme on incentive measures were recently introduced in the NBSAP.
These measures are yet to be implemented. Consequently, there is an urgent need
to identify, promote and implement economic and social instruments for the
promotion of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. Workshop participants
agreed that they are important tools for conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity and natural resources.
RESEARCH & TRAINING Research helps to improve the understanding of the fundamental structure and
functioning of biodiversity components, and to help generate data to support the
formulation of realistic objectives, policies and decisions. Liberia’s potential for
research is currently low. Three key institutions which handled research activities in
the past, College of Agriculture & Forestry of the University of Liberia, the Central
Agriculture Research Institute and the Liberia Institute for Biomedical Research were
seriously impacted by the civil crisis, and lost most of their facilities and equipments.
In order to facilitate biodiversity research, the rehabilitation of infrastructure,
provision of equipments, and sufficient scientific expertise to undertake state of the
art research in several disciplines of relevance to biodiversity conservation must take
precedence. There is need to build national capacity in scientific research and
training in relevant fields.
PUBLIC EDUCATION & AWARENESS
47
Poverty, illiteracy, ignorance and lack of awareness constitute major threats to
biodiversity conservation. These issues cut across the thematic areas during the
workshops. The majority of local people in the rural areas are poor and illiterate,
and the awareness about the importance of biodiversity and the need to protect it is
still low. The average Liberian farmer believes that biodiversity exists to be exploited
regardless of whether it is kept within the right equilibrium.
The environmental education and awareness programmes designed by the EPA are
yet to receive support. Those done under projects have not yielded the desired
results in terms of changing people’s attitudes towards biodiversity, nor have they
succeeded in raising the political will to any significant level.
Both the NBSAP and the NCSA stocktaking exercises recognize the importance of
public education and awareness for meaningful conservation of natural resources,
and recommends that national capacity be built to promote public education and
awareness about the importance of biodiversity and the appropriate measures for its
conservation and sustainable use.
IMPACT ASSESSMENT Along the workshop trail, several human activities (including projects, policies and
practices), which have significant impact on Biodiversity, were identified and
stressed. The forum recognized that to save the remaining biodiversity, every major
land use activity must be preceded by an environmental impact assessment.
Already, many activities in the past (iron ore and mining, plantation development,
road construction and industrial activities) have had serious impact on natural
resources including the rivers. The NCSA exercise recognizes the need to build
capacities at national level and to establish mechanisms to enable timely
identification of impacts, and institute mitigation measures for processes and
activities that have, or are likely to have, significant adverse impact on biodiversity.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
48
As stated earlier, the civil crisis destroyed many biodiversity institutions and
systems. There are many stakeholder groups from all sectors of society involved in
drawing up plans and accessing funds for implementation. Government resources
are rarely adequate to meet recurrent costs of financing even the key developmental
sectors, and are generally inadequate to meet biodiversity conservation needs.
Because substantial investments are required to address the enormous threats and
challenges to the conservation of biodiversity in Liberia, a vigorous fund-raising
strategy needs to be adopted and an efficient and sustainable financial mechanism
established to mobilize adequate financial resources to support the country’s
biodiversity programmes.
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATIONS AND PRACTICES The cultural and ethnic diversities of the people of Liberia have considerable
volumes of indigenous systems and knowledge relevant to biodiversity. Very little,
however, of this knowledge, has been documented and integrated into national
programmes or institutions. Although Liberia acceded to the World Cultural Heritage
Protocol, no program is in place. Local communities are not organized to protect
biodiversity and ensure the protection of their rights under the Convention on
Biological Diversity. Traditional Healers’ Association has not been established as
called for by the Conference of the Parties.
The issue of the protection of indigenous, local knowledge and traditional intellectual
property, and the need for adequate compensation of rights, must be addressed
because communities must be protected against exploitation. The NCSA, therefore,
recognizes the urgent need to build national capacities to document and promote the
application of indigenous and local knowledge, practices, and innovations, and at the
same time, establish a legal and policy framework to protect illegal access to, and
use of this knowledge and to ensure that holders of such knowledge are adequately
protected and equitably compensated.
TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION
49
Technical and scientific cooperation are important instruments in shifting the
direction of biodiversity conservation in Liberia, especially in agriculture and forestry.
There are no clear guidelines on how this cooperation (which include savings in time
and resources and optimizing the use of available facilities) can be achieved. Even
among local groups and institutions, cooperation is quite limited.
PROTECTED AREAS INSITU CONSERVATION (INSIDE PROTECTED AREAS Liberia has designated protected areas as important for conservation purposes.
Two out of several areas have been approved by the Government, while six (6)
remain proposed. The key issues identified in the management of protected areas
include:
Weaknesses in the enforcement of policy and regulatory mechanisms;
Lack of institutional arrangements to effectively collaborate and network;
Inadequate financial resources;
Lack of adequate trained cadre; and
Inadequate political will.
In addition, there are gaps in biodiversity research (both institution and human
resources), which would require urgent attention. Major efforts are also required to
involve local communities in wildlife management. There is a need to
establish/improve, and harmonize disaster preparedness mechanisms.
EX-SITU CONSERVATION (OUT SIDE PROTECTED AREAS) Liberia considers the protection of sites of high biological diversity outside of
protected areas, because they may be unique endemic habitats, or they may be
reservoir for threatened species, wild relatives of domesticated species, and/or
seasonal habitats/staging grounds for migratory species. Buffer zones between
protected areas and areas of human settlement can be zones of potential conflicts;
particularly, with regard to lose of human life, farm crops, and other properties.
Mechanisms must be established to safeguard these and other social interests.
50
EX-SITU CONSERAVTION (GENE BANKS, ETC) The value of ex-situ facilities such as gene banks, arboreta, botanical gardens,
aquaria and sites for the breeding of endangered species is crucial to conservation
initiative for Liberia. Although this country has not developed these facilities to any
considerable level, there’s need to expand whatever exists in order to facilitate the
identification and collection of rare germplasm, threatened and endangered species
as well as the captive breeding of the threatened animal species. Care should be
taken to include medical aromatic, pharmaceutical and other plants providing special
products.
ALIEN AND INVASIVE SPECIES Invasive species are recognized as one of the leading threats to biodiversity
conservation, and pose economic costs on agriculture, forestry, fisheries and other
human enterprises. They also have the potential to impact human health. The
assessment recognized the need to control the introduction and/or impact of
invasive like striga and water hyacinth etc. and monitor their effects on the native
species and the environment in general. As determined by the process, National
guidelines are required for the control of weeds and vermin.
ACCESS TO AND TRANSFER OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES Liberia has just completed the development of a National Biosafety Framework to
guard biotechnology investment in the country. The stocktaking exercise revealed
that the country has huge genetic resources for biotechnology, many of which are
yet to be exploited. Some of the major issues identified include:
Lack of adequate human and institutional resources for biotechnology
management;
Lack of capacity for risk assessment, management and communication;
Poor and/or inadequate infrastructures for biotech;
Lack of guiding policies, regulations, standards, or set of procedures on
biosafety; and
51
Lack of comprehensive policies/investment on research and development,
and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits.
BIOTECHNOLOGY/BIOSAFETY (THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL) Biotechnology has been practiced in Liberia in a limited way over the years in the
brewing of beer, bud grafting, vaccines development, etc. Modern biotechnology,
which uses biochemical by transferring genetic materials from one organism to
another is a relatively new discipline, which requires public education/awareness
and participation. Because biotechnology has potential risks inspite of its advances
in other areas, including medicine and agriculture, there is an urgent need to ensure
safety in dealing with its products. Liberia lacks the required capacities (individual,
institutional, and systemic)to deal with emergency problems/situations.
INDENTIFICATION/CONFIRMATION OF PRIORITY ISSUES
Following a critical review and analysis of the thematic profile above, a series of
issues have been identified, confirmed and prioritized in relation to their capacity
needs. These issues are summarized under the various thematic areas. However,
some of them have been broaden in scope in order to capture issues, which can be
addressed together using identical strategies and actions:
FOREST BIODIVERSITY Absence and/or lack of understanding of the ecosystem approach to forest
management including sustainable management issues;
Poor enforcement of forest laws and policies;
Poor knowledge of botanical planning and management;
Poor system inventories of forest management systems;
Underlying causes of forest biodiversity loss not adequately understood. This
includes measures to mitigate them.
52
COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY
Lack of integrated approach to sustainable use of coastal and marine
biodiversity;
Lack of data on the taxonomy, status and biological characteristics of fish
species and habitats;
Limited initiatives in aquaculture;
Degradation and over-exploitation of marine and coastal resources;
Over exploitation of commercial fish species;
Low level of community involvement in fisheries management;
Lack of marine and coastal protected areas;
Lack of policies and regulations on coastal and marine biodiversity.
WILDLIFE AND PROTECTED AREAS Inadequate wildlife policy and protected areas management plans;
Inadequate capacity for wildlife management;
Inadequate protection for critical species, habitats and heritages;
Inadequate community and private sector initiatives in protected areas
management;
Lack of or poor management of buffer zones around protected areas;
No comprehensive data on the status and trends of wildlife and habitats.
Inadequate legislative measures and standards in wildlife management
Low level of public participation in the design and implementation of protected
area programmes
AGRICULTURE BIODIVERSITY/CROPS
Poor farming practices leading to the loss of agriculture biodiversity;
Lack of good farming practices that would conserve agricultural biodiversity;
Neglect of minor crops, medicinal plants and wild crop;
Lack of policies, regulations and laws on agricultural biodiversity;
Inadequate scientific information to orientate agriculture towards sustainable
patterns;
53
Poor/ inadequate promotion of biodiversity enhancing agricultural systems
and practices.
POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES Inadequate biodiversity considerations in sectoral policies and legislations;
Lack of re-enforcement of policies and other legislations;
Weak framework for cooperation in matters related to biodiversity.
Ineffective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms
AGRICULTURE BIODIVERSITY (LIVESTOCK) o Inadequate supply of feed for livestock;
o Poor rangeland management practices;
o Lack of clear policy for livestock management.
o Insufficient local breed of livestock
AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY
o Lack of clear policy and institutional framework for the management of
inland waste ecosystems;
o Poor knowledge of the status and current management practices of
inland water ecosystem;
o Lack of integrated/ecosystem approach to the management of inland
water ecosystems;
o Inadequate data/information about the status, threats to, and
importance of wetlands;
o Over exploitation and wastage of freshwater resources.
54
CAPACITY BUILDING Inadequate human resources capacity for biodiversity conservation and
sustainable use; Low institutional capacity of public and private agencies including NGOs,
CBOs, etc for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; Inadequate of adequate technology for biodiversity management.
Low level of training in biodiversity management
Huge gaps in training
IDENTIFICATION/MONITORING
General lack of, or weak capacity for assessment, identification, and
monitoring of components of biodiversity. This includes personnel and
infrastructure; Inadequate taxonomic knowledge at the national level for biodiversity
characterization, conservation and sustainable use; No adequate and comprehensive biodiversity baseline data, criteria, and,
indicators can be measured and monitored; Lack of public biodiversity assessment and monitoring Programmes and
systems. No standards in the use of components of biodiversity Lack of border patrol and lack of training for customs personnel to monitor
exotic biological resources brought into the county SUSTAINABLE USE
Lack of efficient biodiversity harvesting practices and methods of use; Over-exploitation of biological resources; Lack of effective law enforcement, especially with regards to wildlife;
Lack of data on fisheries resources (age, size, structure, etc);
Over harvesting fishing;
Low capacity of the Coast Guard to patrol territorial waters
Poor fishery harvesting, processing and utilization methods and practices.
55
INCENTIVE MEASURES Lack of national incentive programme;
Lack of explicit strategy, policy, or programme on incentive measures for
biodiversity conservation;
No capacity building initiative/development regarding incentive measures.
RESEARCH AND TRAINING
Lack of data regarding the function and structure of ecosystems;
Lack of relevant socio-economic and policy planning capacity and data;
Poor or inadequate research related activities for biodiversity.
No land-use feasibility studies, and hence no land-use planning
No initiative taken in taxonomy
PUBLIC EDUCATION/AWARENESS Inadequate environmental education campaign efforts;
Ignorance, illiteracy and poverty continue to threaten biodiversity;
Lack of adequate and planned awareness programs;
Biodiversity not part of school curriculum and teaching programmes.
ACCESS AND BENEFIT SHARING No legislative policy or administrative measures to facilitate ABS in use of
genetic resources, as well as lack of ABS negotiation skills;
Lack of national capacity to implement a regulatory regime on ABS.
BIOSAFETY/BIOTECHNOLOGY Limited level of awareness of the impact of products of biotechnology on
human health and the environment;
No comprehensive legislative and policy framework to guide the use of
biotechnology in the country;
Poor human and institutional capacity in Liberia;
No national institutional structure to regulate and monitor the use of
biotechnology and biosafety issues.
ALIEN/INVASIVE SPECIES
56
Poor understanding and information on the status of invasive/alien species
and their impact on Biodiversity as well as methods to eradicate them;
Lack of comprehensive legal and legislative framework on invasive/alien
species including enforcement of existing sectoral laws.
PRIORITIZATION OF ISSUES & CAPACITY NEEDS Matrix I ISSUES
SCALE OF PROLEM
LEVEL OF CONCERN
ABILITY TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS
PRIORITY RANKING
FOREST BIODIVERSITY Underlying causes of Forest Biodiversity loss poorly understood as well as measures to mitigate them.
National
High
Low
1
Absence and/or lack of understanding of the ecosystem approach to forest management including its sustainable management issues.
National
High
Low
1
Poor enforcement of forest laws
57
and policies. National
High
Low
2
Poor knowledge of botanical planning and management
National
High
Low
2
Poor systemic inventories of forest management systems
National
High
Medium
1
COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY Lack of an integrated or ecosystem approach to sustainable use of coastal and marine biodiversity.
Global
High
Low
1
Lack of data on the taxonomy status and biological characteristics of fish species and habitats.
National
High
Low
1
Limited initiatives in aquaculture.
National
High
Low
3
Degradation and over-exploitation of marine and coastal resources.
Global
High
Low
4
Over-exploitation of commercial fish species.
Global
Medium
Low
3
Low community involvement in fisheries management.
Local
Medium
Low
3
Lack of marine and coastal protected areas.
National
Medium
Low
3
Lack of policies and regulations on coastal and marine biodiversity.
National
Medium
Low
3
WILDLIFE AND PROTECTED AREAS Inadequate Wildlife Policy and protected areas management plans.
National
High
Medium
2
Inadequate capacity for wildlife management.
National
High
Medium
2
Inadequate protection of critical species, habitats and heritages.
National
High
Medium
3
Inadequate community and private sector initiatives in protected areas management.
Local
High
Medium
2
Lack of, or poor management of buffer zones around protected areas.
Local
Medium
Medium
2
No comprehensive data on the status and trends of wildlife and habitats.
National
High
Medium
2
AGRICULTURE BIODIVERSITY (CROPS) Poor farming practices leading
58
to the loss of biodiversity. National High Medium 2 Lack of good farming practices that would conserve agriculture biodiversity.
National
High
Low
2
Neglect of minor crops, medicinal plants and wild crops.
National
Medium
Low
3
Lack of policies regulations and laws on agriculture biodiversity
National
High
Medium
1
Inadequate scientific knowledge information to orientate agriculture toward sustainable patterns.
National
High
Medium
2
Poor/inadequate promotion of biodiversity enhancing agriculture systems and practices.
National
High
Medium
2
AGRICULTURE BIODIVERSITY (LIVESTOCK) o Lack of clear policy for
livestock management. National
High
Low
2
o Poor rangeland management practices
Local
Medium
Low
4
o Predominance of extensive livestock (low input) production system.
Local
Medium
Medium
4
- 2 -
ISSUES SCALE OF PROLEM
LEVEL OF CONCERN
ABILITY TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS
PRIORITY RANKING
Inadequate supply of feed for livestock.
National
Medium
Medium
4
QUATIC BIODIVERSITY o Lack of
Clear policy and institutional framework for the management of inland water ecosystem.
National
High
Low
1
o Poor Knowledge of the states, and current management practices of inland
59
water ecosystems. Global High Low 1 Lack of integrated/ecosystem approach to the management of inland water ecosystem.
Global
High
Low
1
Inadequate data/information about the status, threats to, and importance of wetlands.
National
High
Low
1
Over-exploitation and wastage of freshwater resources.
National
High
Medium
2
Lack of biodiversity consideration in sectoral policies and legislations
National
High
High
2
Weak framework for cooperation in matters related to biodiversity.
National
Medium
Medium
2
Lack of comprehensive biodiversity policy and legislation.
National
Medium
Medium
2
- 3 - ISSUES SCALE
OF PROLEM
LEVEL OF CONCERN
ABILITY TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS
PRIORITY RANKING
CAPACITY BUILDING Inadequate human resources capacity for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
National
High
Low
1
Low institutional capacity of public and private agencies including NGOs and CBOs, etc for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
60
National
High
Low
2
Inadequate technology for biodiversity management.
National
High
Low
1
MONITORING/IDENTIFICATION General lack of, or weak capacity for assessment identification and monitoring of component of biodiversity. This includes personnel and infrastructure.
National
High
Medium
2
General lack of taxonomic expertise at national level for biodiversity characterization, conservation and sustainable use.
Global
High
Low
1
No adequate and comprehensive biodiversity baseline data, criteria and indicators, which can be measured and monitored.
National
High
Low
1
Lack of public biodiversity assessment and monitoring Programmes and systems.
National
High
High
1
- 4 - ISSUES
SCALE OF PROLEM
LEVEL OF CONCERN
ABILITY TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS
PRIORITY RANKING
SUSTAINABLE USE Lack of efficient biodiversity harvesting practices and methods of use.
National
High
High
2
Over-exploitation of biological resources.
National
High
Medium
2
Lack of effective law enforcement, especially with regard to wildlife.
National
High
Medium
3
Lack of data on fisheries resources (age, size, structure, etc).
National
High
Low
3
Over-harvesting of fisheries by foreign vessels.
National
Medium
Low
4
Poor fisheries harvesting processing and utilization
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methods and practices. National Medium Low 3 INCENTIVE MEASURES Lack of national incentive programme.
National
High
Medium
2
Lack of explicit strategic policy, or programme on incentive measures for biodiversity conservation.
National
High
Medium
2
No capacity building initiatives/development regarding incentive measures.
Local
Medium
Medium
3
RESEARCH AND TRAINING Lack of data regarding the function and structure of ecosystems.
National
High
Medium
2
Lack of relevant socio-economic and policy planning capacity and data.
National
Medium
Medium
2
Poor or inadequate research related activities for biodiversity.
National
High
Medium
2
PUBLIC EDUCATION/AWARENESS Inadequate environmental education campaign efforts.
National
High
Medium
Medium
Ignorance, illiteracy and poverty continue to threaten biodiversity.
National
High
Medium
2
Lack of adequate and planned awareness program.
National
Medium
Medium
2
ISSUES
SCALE OF PROLEM
LEVEL OF CONCERN
ABILITY TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS
PRIORITY RANKING
Biodiversity not part of school curriculum and teaching programs.
National
High
Medium
1
ACCESS AND BENEFIT SHARING No legislative policy or administrative measures to facilitate ABS in the use of genetic resources, as well as lack of ABS negotiation skills.
National
High
Low
2
BIOSAFETY/BIOTECHNOLOGY Limited level of awareness of the impact of products of biotechnology on human health and the environment.
National
High
Low
1
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No comprehensive legislative and policy framework to guide the use of biotechnology in the country.
National
High
Low
1
Poor human and institutional capacity in Liberia.
National
High
Medium
2
No national institutional structure to regulate and monitor the use of biotechnology and biosafety issues.
National
High
Medium
2
ALIEN-INVASIVE SPECIES o Poor understanding and
information on the status of alien & invasive species and their impact on biodiversity as well as methods to eradicate them.
National
High
Medium
2
o Lack of comprehensive legal and legislative framework on alien and invasive species including enforcement of existing sectoral laws.
National
High
Medium
2
ASSESSMENT OF CAPACITY CONSTRINTS FOR PRIORITY ISSUES AT VARIOUS LEVELS
A series of capacity constr5aints have been identified, as a result of the detailed analysis of
issues and constraints raised above, which militate against the management and sustainable
use and are addressed below:
CAPACITY CONSTRAINT AT INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
The Steering Committee, which provided guidance for the conduct of the National
Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan process and the planning team had good knowledge on
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biodiversity issues. However, the civil crisis of 2003, coupled with the pressing economic
situation in the country, some members of these two groups have either left the country, or
found other positions, making it difficult/impossible for them to continue in the same
capacity. Consequently, new members are nominated with little or no knowledge about
biodiversity outside their areas of expertise.
The stocktaking exercise and workshops also revealed that compendium of experts listed by
the Civil Service Agency, Private Institutions and the NGO sector are not adequate. Experts
are not available in key biodiversity areas such as taxonomic study, although there are
several NGOs in the sector, just few individuals have some knowledge about biodiversity
through their association with the NBSAP and NCSA processes. In the provincial areas,
individual capacity for biodiversity management is insignificant.
As the workshops also revealed, those who are trained and knowledgeable about biodiversity
were trained between 10-20 years ago. For management of biodiversity at the national level,
we recognize a serious gap, and the gap needs to be addressed if the NBSAP is to be
implemented efficiently and effectively.
CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS AT INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL
The stocktaking exercise and workshops identified several institutional constraints across the
country. They range from the lack of infrastructures to equipments, and facilities for
institutional operations. The exercises revealed that there’s an urgent need to put in place
and/or strengthen existing institutional structures. Outstanding examples are The Forestry
Training Institute, the Central Agriculture Research Institute, College of Agriculture and
Forestry facilities, and provide the necessary resources and capacities to gather and
disseminate relevant scientific data and to conduct relevant research.
Generally, the following areas lack the requisite technical and scientific expertise in
iodiversity management and adequate financial resources:
- Biodiversity assessment and monitoring in the different ecosystems;
- Taxonomic study;
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- Biosafety/biotechnology (risk assessment/management);
- Ecosystem approach to biodiversity management;
- Negotiation skills for Access & Benefit Sharing Regimes;
- Access to information for effective biodiversity conservation;
- Technology transfer.
CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS AT THE SYSTEMIC LEVEL
The availability of an enabling policy and legislative environment is indispensable for
effective biodiversity management and sustainable use. For Liberia, these seem inadequate
where they are present and do not adequately take into account issues of concern for
biodiversity. In some institutions, they are lacking. Therefore, an urgent need to further
review national and sectoral policies, and/or develop additional policy and legislative
frameworks and provisions for emerging issues in order to reduce unnecessary pressures on
biodiversity.
The stocktaking exercise and consultation at workshops provided communities and other
stakeholders an increasing awareness on biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use
around the country. Notwithstanding the achievement made in this area, there’s need to
further reinforce public awareness activities at all levels of the Liberian society in order to
bring about the required attitudinal change. It requires constant and adequate financial
support, which is now a major constraint.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAPACITY BUILDING TO ADDRESS CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS FOR PRIORITY ISSUES IN BIODIVERSITY The stocktaking, inventory and workshops revealed that most institutions responsible for
biodiversity conservation and sustainable use lack the necessary capacity to effectively carry
out their work. They lack adequate trained personnel, financial resources, technology
equipments, and facilities. There’s urgent need to build and strengthen institutional capacity;
to conduct training of personnel, and enhance the capacity to access information and to
identify and cease other opportunities. The most striking development since the adoption of
the CBD is the growing awareness of biodiversity and its components, and the benefits that
can be accrued therefrom. It is also clear that the objectives set forth in the convention are
65
part and parcel of any sustainable development strategy, poverty alleviation, maintenance of
environmental sustainability and the conservation of a more equitable world order.
Recognizing the inextricable linkages between the CBD and the other RIO Conventions, it
becomes appropriate to forge effective collaborative and coordination mechanisms in the
implementation of crosscutting programs, projects, and actions at the field level. Critical
capacity building across the conventions has potential for resource mobilization, especially at
programme level within the country, and if the capacity to be built would also support
broader sustainable development needs. In special cases, regional approach and initiatives to
meeting capacity needs might be feasible, e.g. regions with similar ecology and biodiversity
issues.
There are series of benefits for coordinating the implementation of the CBD with related RIO
Conventions at the national level.
a) The first benefit is that the Environmental Protection Agency will be able to take
charge of coordinating the capacity development needs of the three RIO
Conventions in areas of common concern;
b) The second benefit is to retain the capacity development needs with the existing
focal institutions who would ensure that the elaborate inclusion of capacity built is
used to produce maximum benefits and the in other cases, the EPA will maintain its
“watch-dog” function to ensure the elaborate inclusion of capacity building
components in regular projects, and that these are adequately budgeted for.
Furthermore, the EPA as the coordinating agency will be vigilant in ensuring that
capacity is expanded to include not only the needs of the agency, , but also for other
agencies, be they public, private, NGOs, CBOs, industries, or individuals whose
involvement may either be direct or indirect.
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MATRIX 2: SHOWS THE CAPACITY NEEDS AT VARIOUS LEVELS FOR THE PRIORITY ISSUES/CONSTRAINTS DISCUSSED AND CONFIRMED IN SECTION…………..
CAPACITY NEEDS PRIORITY ISSUES INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTIONAL
SYSTEMIC
FOREST BIODIVERSITY Underlying causes of forest biodiversity loss poorly understood, as well as measures to mitigate them.
• Train personnel in forest
biodiversity assessment and monitoring.
• Train and involve local communities in forestry activities.
• Create public awareness to enhance attitudinal change.
• Create an appropriate institutional enabling environment with sufficient resources to address issues of forest biodiversity.
• Develop and institute the required legal, policy and administrative measures to control and manage forest resources.
• Establish incentive measures to encourage cooperation between comities and government.
Absence and/or lack of understanding of ecosystem approach to forest management including its sustainable management issues.
• Create public awareness among stakeholders at all level about protection and conservation of biodiversity and forest resources.
• Train personnel.
• Promote ecosystem approach in forest biodiversity projects.
• Create enabling environment to promote ecosystem approach through pilot/demonstration projects.
• Involve local communities, needs, CBOs and PVDs in forest biodiversity project.
• Adapt existing laws, and/or develop guidelines and principles for the ecosystem approach to biodiversity management.
• Ensure the rehabilitation of all degraded areas that are of biological importance through tree planting.
Poor enforcement of laws and policies and poor forest management
Up-date knowledge and skills in forest management and law
Secure financial support and provide technical assistance and
• Ensure enforcement of laws and policies.
systems. enforcement.Conduct training.
______ to experts, and staff responsible for the management of natural resource.
• Provide incentives to encourage proper governance of resources.
Poor systemic inventories of forest management systems.
• Conduct training and workshops.
• Conduct survey.
• Technology transfer • Develop model forest
management plan. • Exchange of research
fellows and technology..
• Introduce certificate scheme for forest management.
• Ensure strict adherence to the model forest management plan through enforcement of policies and laws.
C OASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY CAPACITY NEEDS PRIORITY ISSUES INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTIONAL SYSTEMIC COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY Lack of integrated or ecosystem approach to sustainable use of coastal and marine biodiversity.
• Train personnel in relevant fields.
• Conduct public awareness and education.
• Technology transfer • Information exchange • Forest preparation of
management plan.
• Develop national guidelines and policies.
Lack of data on the taxonomic status and biological characteristics of fish species & habitats.
• Train personnel in relevant discipline.
• Exchange programs-short courses in specialized areas.
• Technology transfer • Information exchange at
all levels. • Collaboration in project
implementation.
• Develop policies • Research and information
exchange. • Promote cooperation
Limited initiatives in aquaculture • Public awareness education. • Training
• Conduct research • Develop investment policy for aquaculture.
Degradation and over-exploitation of coastal and marine resources.
Training in assessment monitoring and evaluation techniques.
Initiate pilot project on sustainable use issues and
Enforce policies and regulations.
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Public awareness involve communities, NGOs, GBOs, etc.
Over exploitation of commercial fish species.
Train in skills to negotiate access regimes. Train personnel in stock assessment surveys.
Empower communities Develop negotiation skills Strengthen institutional incentive to monitor exploitation trends.
Introduce legislative and policy measures with incentives built into them. Empower communities to administer laws, develop guidelines for best practices.
Low community involvement in fisheries issues.
• Public awareness and education.
• Conduct training workshops.
• Initiate pilot projects and involve communities.
• Provide support to women and groups.
• Deliberate on policy and administrative pronouncement on the involvement of local communities in fisheries activities.
• Provide incentives to encourage greater participation.
COASTAL & MARINE BIODIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE CAPACITY NEEDS PRIORITY ISSUES INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTION SYSTEMICLack of coastal and marine protected areas.
• Awareness raising • Workshops/seminars
• Invite experts and initiate action to create protected areas network.
Develop laws and policies for coastal and marine ecosystem and protected areas.
Lack of laws and policies on coastal and marine biodiversity.
• Conduct workshops • Crate awareness
• Source funding for policy development and invite stakeholders.
• Lobby with national legislators and other policy markers.
WILDLIFE/PROTECTED AREAS Inadequate wildlife policy and
• Develop skills in writing
• Train aquatic and
• Revise wildlife biodiversity
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protected areas management plan. management plans. • Conduct workshops and
seminars.
terrestrial ecologists. • Source funding to
implement activity
laws and make responsive to current needs.
• Lobby with policy makers.
Inadequate capacity for wildlife management.
• Conduct workshops and training.
• Identify personnel and sources of funding.
• Technology transfer
• Provide resources and change policy to make people responsive to skills.
Inadequate protection of critical species, habitat and management.
• Create awareness • Advocate behavior change • Ecological survey skills &
taxonomy.
• Conduct research • Develop pilot projects • Develop skills in
cartography, terrestrial ecology, etc.
• Deliberate on policy and administrative issues
• Enact legislation for critical species and habitats and increase protection capacity.
Inadequate communities and private sector initiatives in protected areas management.
Change of attitude of private sector and communities through training.
Creation of mutually beneficial projects and links between government and local communities.
Create suitable environment and policies for collaboration/cooperation.
Lack of, or poor management of buffer zones around protected areas.
Conduct training and workshops. • Develop management plan for protected areas.
• Develop ecological skills.
• Develop collaboration mechanism between different sectors
• Enforce laws • Provide incentives.
AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY/CROPS CAPACITY NEEDS PRIORITY ISSUES INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTION SYSTEMICNo comprehensive data on the status and trends of wildlife and habitats.
• Training in taxonomy and survey techniques.
• Increase collaborative links with relevant organizations.
• Invite experts to work in Liberia.
AGRICULTURAL
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72
BIODIVERSITY/CROPS
• Poor farming practices leading to loss of agricultural biodiversity.
• Train extension agents farmers, herders, husbandry, fertilizer users, and in rangeland management practices.
• Strengthen agricultural services by providing institutions with resources (materials and equipments, etc to understand sustainable agricultural practices.
• Institute appropriate
policies laws and programs to promote good and sustainable farming practices.
• Provide incentives
Lack of farming practices that would conserve agricultural biodiversity.
Conduct training to improve soil structure and productivity, reduce crop losses and pests damage
Strengthen CARI and CAFUL as well as mixed farming centers to better provide extension services.
Introduce legislation, policies, and laws, including incentives for good agricultural practices.
Neglect of minor crops, medicinal plants, and wild crops.
• Information/awareness on the importance of minor crops, medicinal plants, etc.
• Train local people in cultivation and management of local plants.
• Collect data
• Create appropriate institutional structure and provide adequate resources.
• Involve local people in research on minor crops and medicinal plants.
• Conduct assessment on status and threats to minor crops and medicinal plants.
• Create policy, law and administrative measures for the conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants. A minor crops, including their prospects, access and benefit sharing arrangements.
• Initiate pilot projects and encourage local management structures and capacitate them.
AGRICULTURE BIODIVERSITY/LIVESTOCK CAPACITY NEEDS PRIORITY ISSUES INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTION SYSTEMICInadequate scientific knowledge and information to orientate agriculture to sustainable patterns.
• Train personnel in various disciplines.
• Train in data collection and analysis.
• Involve local people in pilot projects and improve their knowledge innovations and practices.
• Institute policies legislative and administrative measures in consolidating existing facilities.
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• Conduct workshops. • Strengthen and provide
structures for seed/gene banks, agricultural research.
• Provide necessary resources.
• Create new facilities (e.g. gene banks) and provide necessary resources.
Poor/inadequate promotion of biodiversity enhancing agricultural systems and practices.
• Raise awareness • Training in various
techniques including storage. • Develop skills of local people
through modernization of indigenous technologies, practices and innovations relevant to agro-biodiversity.
• Strengthen partnership between farmers, researchers and extension worker for skill transfer.
• Conduct study tours or field visits to areas of success stories.
• Initiate field/pilot projects with local people and introduce appropriate incentives measures.
• Package of agro-biodiversity policy, legislative and administrative measures including incnet6ive measures to promote biodiversity enhancing agricultural systems and practices.
AGRICULTURE BIIODIVERSITY LIVESTOCK
• Lack of clear policies for livestock breeding and management.
• Conduct workshops
• Seek funding for development of policies and laws.
• Identify experts to draft policies.
• Advocate for development of policies and laws.
• Enforcement of policies.
Poor rangeland management practices.
• Introduce landowners and communities to sound range management through pilot projects.
• Increase capacity to acquire
• Strengthen organizational capacity for NGOs & CBOs
• Sensitization fragility of range ecosystem.
• Formulate rangeland policies
• Legislate policies • Encourage integrated use of
range resources
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and/or make additional feed using locally available material resources.
• Identify and improve market outlets.
• Encourage take off at critical times of the year.
• Strengthen capacities in elaborating development plans.
• Strengthen range management units.
• Environmental training • Strengthen linkage
between various institutions using range resources.
• Group management training
• Provide financial and technical support for
development and utilization
• Improve monitoring and evaluation system.
CAPACITY NEEDS PRIORITY ISSUES INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTION SYSTEMICPredominance of extensive livestock (law input) production system.
• Awareness campaign on socio-cultural and environmental issues.
• Training on improved husbandry practices.
• Study tours/visits.
• Strengthen extension sercices.
• Training on cooperative formation for different producer associations.
• Access to financial institutions.
• Build linkages between financiers, producers, and customers through the enactment of a national training policy and inter-agency collaborative mechanisms.
Inadequate supply of feed for livestock.
• Training trainers in:
- feed conservation/preservation.
- Processing/milling of feed.
- Mineral lack
• Strengthen sectoral linkages between livestock agriculture, forestry and fishery in the production and management of live stock feeds.
• Strengthen producer
• Improve access of financial institutions.
• Improve coordination of different stakeholders in livestock feed production through the creation of un-enabling policy, legislative and administrative
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preparation. - Exchange visits.
group and organizations involvement in livestock feed production.
• Strengthen extension services.
environment.
AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY Lack of clear policy and institutional frameworks for the management of inland water ecosystem.
• Conduct training in policy review for mutation and streamlining.
• Training to define institutional mandates.
• Put in place a policy and law formulation body to ensure that inland water policy and legislative issues are considered in relevant sectoral plans and policies.
• Provide an integrated policy and legislative environment for inland waters within the framework of the national development plan.
• Revise/update existing water development policy.
Poor knowledge of the status and current management practices of inland water ecosystems.
• Train personnel in research methods.
• Exchange programs • Conduct workshops
• Inter-agency, regional, sub-regional collaboration.
• Initiate pilot projects with local people.
• Strengthen existing structure or create appropriate ones and provide them with adequate resources.
• Strengthen national institution responsible for biodiversity research, including inland waters, through appropriate policy and legislative measures as well as appropriate funding.
