The Environmental Protection Agency warns individuals, businesses, and entities involved in activities within the Montserrado Wetland to desist immediately or risk punitive actions from government.
By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Monrovia, Liberia, April 10, 2025 – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces a formal notice to all individuals, businesses, and entities involved in activities within the Montserrado Wetland, including Tyler Island and adjacent areas along SKD-Boulevard and Jacob Town.
During a quarterly press conference on April 8, 2025 held at the entity’s headquarters in Monrovia, Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel K Urey Yarkpawolo, said the EPA has received reports of unauthorized backfilling, construction, and settlement expansion within sensitive wetland area, which is a designated Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.
These activities, according to him, have led to significant ecological damage, such as destruction of mangroves and aquatic habitats, as well as obstruction of natural waterways, which in turn heightens flood risk for Greater Monrovia.
The EPA emphasized that such actions violate Liberia’s Environmental Protection and Management Law (EPML) and the Ramsar Convention, to which Liberia is a signatory.
He said, “As part of corrective measures, the EPA has ordered an immediate halt to all activities in the affected area and instructed evacuation of people and removal of materials within five working days.
A demolition operation, set for April 16, 2025, will be carried out in collaboration with the Liberia National Police, Ministry of Public Works, Paynesville City Corporation, Ministry of Justice, and other relevant authorities.
Failure to comply will result in enforcement actions, including demolition of unauthorized structures, fines, and potential legal prosecution, he adds.
The EPA emphasized the importance of preserving Liberia’s wetlands as part of the country’s climate resilience and disaster risk reduction strategies, highlighting their role in protecting biodiversity and preventing natural disasters.
The EPA remains firm in its commitment to maintaining environmental integrity and ensuring that all citizens of Liberia have the right to a clean and ecologically balanced environment. Editing by Jonathan Browne
