USAID Conservation Works Activity Supports Landmark Agreement for Protection of East Nimba Nature Reserve in Liberia
Announcement
Last Friday, Conservation Works, in partnership with Conservation International, supported the signing of a landmark agreement between the Government of Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority and local communities to protect the East Nimba Nature Reserve. The Co-Management Agreement will ensure the protection of the only co-managed protected area in Liberia and its biological diversity.
The USAID-funded Conservation Works (CW) Activity launched July of this year, in partnership with Fauna & Flora International, Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue & Protection, Partners in Development, and Solimar International, and continues its ongoing support for the creation and development of protected areas.
Learn more about the Conservation Works Activity Here.
Press Release via. Urias Goll, Esq., Deputy Chief of Party for the CW Activity:
Defined by a paper in the international journal of the commons, Co-management is an important conservation model that aims to increase the legitimacy of protected areas and moderate negative attitudes toward conservation The co-management model, in the midst of the requirements of the Land Rights Act and the importance of rights-based conservation, represents the most effective governance model for managing protected and conserved areas and delivering conservation outcomes.
The CMC is composed of twelve members with six representatives each from FDA and the JCFMB of Sehyi, Gba and Zor communities. Following the first expiration of the CMA in 2016, the FDA and the CMC renewed the agreement allowing both communities and FDA to continue managing the ENNR effectively. Since 2021, upon its second expiration, efforts to renew the CMA had been ongoing, but unsuccessful. This renewal, in the midst of biodiversity loss and the need to protect forest resources, represents significant progress towards the government’s vision of promoting communities’ rights, strengthening biodiversity conservation, contributing to the nationally determined contributions (NDC) for climate change, and building an economically prosperous future through ecotourism.
With support from USAID, through its Conservation Works activity, and Conservation International, about 54 individuals, on October 28, 2022, including representatives from the FDA, ENNR CMC, local government, Community Forest Management Bodies, local and international NGOs, and private sector actors convened. They reviewed the ENNR CMC progress, strengthened coordination between partners supporting ENNR and renewed the CMA. Key revisions to the original CMA included clarifications around the CMC’s operational structure, CMC’s and FDA’s rights and obligations, and financial transparency.
The revised agreement was signed by the ENNR CMC and attested by the District Commissioners of Yarmein, Sanniquellie-Mah, and Gbeley-Geh. The Managing Director, Hon. C. Mike Doryen, signed on behalf of the FDA and expressed his elation for the progress that has been made in protecting Liberia’s unique biodiversity through a partnership with the associated communities. He noted that “it is my hope that this co-management model, demonstrating success in ENNR, will be replicated to other PAs across the country…until communities are involved in the management of these resources, our efforts will yield minimum results.”
This signing marks a major step towards putting communities at the center of conservation and natural resources management.The ENNR remains Liberia’s only co-managed PA and is a shining example of Government and communities working together to protect biodiversity for the benefit of everyone.
Partners
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
The U.S. Agency for International Development administers the US foreign assistance program, providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 80 countries worldwide – https://www.usaid.gov/
Forestry Development Authority of Liberia https://www.fda.gov.lr/
Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue & Protection https://www.liberiachimpanzeerescue.org/
Partners in Development https://padev.org/
Fauna & Flora International https://www.fauna-flora.org/
Solimar International https://www.solimarinternational.com/
About EcoHealth Alliance:
EcoHealth Alliance is an international environmental health nonprofit dedicated to protecting wildlife and the public from emerging infectious diseases. We work with governments, scientists, and policymakers around the world to make critical changes for pandemic prediction and prevention. Our dedicated scientists conduct field research and develop tools to safeguard the health of the planet, people, and wildlife.
Press contact: communications@ecohealthalliance.org.
About EcoHealth Alliance:
EcoHealth Alliance is an international environmental health nonprofit dedicated to protecting wildlife and the public from emerging infectious diseases. We work with governments, scientists, and policymakers around the world to make critical changes for pandemic prediction and prevention. Our dedicated scientists conduct field research and develop tools to safeguard the health of the planet, people, and wildlife.
Press Contact: Majelia Ampadu, ampadu@ecohealthalliance.org