Journalists for the Protection of Nature (JPN) Liberia, an environmental communication and advocacy watchdog, has sharply criticized recent remarks made by Romeo Quoih, Representative of Sinoe County District Two, in which he reportedly suggested that Sapo National Park should be degazetted.
JPN Liberia Program Manager, Mark Dahn, at a press conference described the lawmaker’s comments as “unfriendly to nature” and a serious threat to Liberia’s long-standing conservation efforts. The group emphasized that Sapo National Park was legally gazetted in 1983 through an Act of the Legislature and stands as a cornerstone of Liberia’s environmental protection program.
“While we respect the lawmaker’s right to free expression, Quoih cannot use such rights to undermine the government’s commitment to conserving 1.5 million hectares of forestland and its ecological values,” Dahn said.
Sapo National Park, Liberia’s first and largest protected rainforest, spans 180,365 hectares and shelters endangered species such as the pygmy hippopotamus, forest elephants, and Jentink’s duiker. The park represents one of the last intact tropical rainforests in West Africa and plays a central role in Liberia’s international commitments, including the Bonn Challenge on forest conservation.
Dahn reminded the public that the park has already been under pressure from illicit miners, poachers, and drug traffickers, and warned that Rep. Quoih’s remarks could embolden illegal occupants to resist government directives to vacate the area.
The group also expressed disappointment that such a statement came from Hon. Quoih, who once served as Acting Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “He previously advocated for sustainable environmental management, including protection of Sapo National Park,” Dahn noted.
Contrary to Rep. Quoih’s assertions, the JPN Liberia official highlighted that the park is a hub of investment and collaboration with international partners such as GIZ, Fauna & Flora, and the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation. These partnerships have supported eco-tourism, community livelihoods, youth engagement, and anti-poaching patrols.
Communities surrounding the park including Juarzon, Putu, Jalay Town, and Jlatiken benefit from ecosystem services such as clean water, climate regulation, and access to non-timber forest products.
Dahn warned that de-gazetting the park would jeopardize these gains and weaken Liberia’s international reputation.
JPN Liberia also expressed concern over the silence of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), the agency legally mandated to manage Liberia’s protected areas. The group urged FDA Managing Director Rudolph Merab to publicly reaffirm the park’s legal status and ecological importance, warning that continued silence “suggests a different motive… counterproductive to sustainable forest management.”
JPN Liberia called on the government to immediately remove illegal occupants from Sapo National Park and to strengthen community involvement in conservation programs.
“Conservation is not a barrier to development, it is the foundation for sustainable progress,” the organization stressed. “The future of Liberia’s forests depends on informed dialogue, responsible leadership, and a shared commitment to protecting our natural heritage.”
