The Environmental Protection Agency in partnership with UNDP is conducting a two-day validation of Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in Nmba.
By: Naneka A. Hoffman
Ganta, Liberia, April 2, 2025 -The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia in partnership with UNDP is conducting a two-day focus on validation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
The workshop is supported by the UNDP under the Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) project, with funding from Sweden. The workshop aims to refine and finalize the draft NBSAP, including its communication strategy, implementation plan, and monitoring and evaluation framework.
It provides a platform for key stakeholders to review, discuss, and align the draft NBSAP with Liberia’s biodiversity priorities and the country’s broader development goals. Participants include government representatives, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community groups, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and development partners.
The National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP) Validation serves as a critical platform for reviewing, refining, and finalizing the draft NBSAP Communication, Implementation and Monitoring and Evaluation Plans, in consultation with key stakeholders.
Liberia joined the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1994, recognizing the importance of international cooperation in biodiversity protection. Liberia’s rich biodiversity, including its vast rainforests, endangered species, and diverse ecosystems, underscores the country’s commitment to biodiversity conservation.
However, growing pressures from economic development, population growth, and unsustainable land use practices pose significant threats to the country’s natural resources.
The NBSAP is designed to serve as a strategic framework for the sustainable management and conservation of Liberia’s biodiversity, in line with the CBD and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The plan will help guide national efforts to address deforestation, species loss, and other biodiversity-related challenges while promoting sustainable development.
During the opening of the workshop, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, EPA Executive Director, emphasized the importance of the validation workshop, stating that it marks a significant step in Liberia’s journey toward environmental sustainability.
He highlighted Liberia’s rich biodiversity, including its Upper Guinean rainforests and coastal ecosystems, which are critical to the survival and livelihoods of Liberians. Despite their importance, these ecosystems face threats from deforestation, habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, and climate change.
Dr. Yarkpawolo expressed gratitude for the support from UNDP and the Government of Sweden in developing three key strategic documents: the NBSAP Implementation Plan, the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, and the Communication Strategy. Together, these documents form the foundation of Liberia’s renewed efforts to halt biodiversity loss, sustainably manage ecosystems, and ensure equitable benefit-sharing of genetic resources.
He further emphasized the need for collective ownership of the NBSAP, with diverse stakeholders contributing to the process to ensure the plan reflects the realities and aspirations of all Liberians.
He also noted that Liberia’s biodiversity goals must align with global initiatives such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the national development agenda, particularly the ARREST agenda.
On behalf of the UNDP, Dorsla D. Farcarthy, Team Leader for Inclusive Growth & Sustainable Development, spoke about Liberia’s importance as a biodiversity hotspot, with an estimated 6.6 million hectares of forest cover, representing 69% of the country’s total landmass.
However, he also highlighted the challenges Liberia faces, including deforestation driven by commercial logging, agricultural expansion, and unsustainable land use practices.
Mr. Farcarthy stressed the urgent need for action to address forest degradation, improve livelihoods, and promote sustainable forest management practices.
He pointed out that many rural communities depend on subsistence farming and forest resources for survival, but these practices often lead to environmental degradation. Sustainable economic alternatives are necessary to balance the needs of local populations with conservation goals.
Mr. Farcarthy also noted that Liberia faces increasing temperatures and environmental challenges over the next decade, making urgent action on natural resource management even more critical. He called for a stronger conservation strategy and greater integration of environmental sustainability into public discourse and policy.
The workshop, held on April 1, 2025 at Jackie’s Hall in Ganta City, Nimba County, brings together a diverse group of stakeholders, including the EPA, Forestry Development Authority (FDA), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Health, National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), and various academic, research, and civil society organizations. Development partners such as UNDP, FAO, and others are also participating, alongside representatives from the private sector, local communities, women’s groups, and youth organizations.
This two-day workshop underscores Liberia’s commitment to sustainable biodiversity conservation, fostering collaboration among all sectors to safeguard the country’s natural heritage for future generations. Editing by Jonathan Browne
