The Government of Liberia, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially launched a comprehensive five-year strategic plan aimed at bolstering environmental governance and promoting sustainable development.
The launch event, held at the Belle Casa Hotel in Sinkor, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, international partners, and environmental advocates.
In his address, Ambassador Charles Snetter, representing President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, emphasized the government’s commitment to sustainable resource management and the crucial role of environmental protection in Liberia’s national development agenda, known as the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
Snetter highlighted the urgency of the plan against the backdrop of increasing threats posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and pollution.
“The launch of this strategic plan comes at a time when Liberia is facing critical environmental challenges that threaten our socio-economic and ecological systems,” Ambassador Snetter said.
He assured the country and partners of the administration’s commitment to a structured and well-funded approach to tackle these issues.
The five-year strategic plan is built on five primary pillars aimed at mitigating environmental degradation and enhancing resource management and biodiversity conservation.
Key features of the plan include the establishment of EPA offices in all 15 counties to improve local environmental governance, the modernization of operational systems through the digitization of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), and the construction of regional environmental research facilities.
With an estimated implementation cost of $32,078,000, the plan calls for a government investment of $15,188,000, with an additional $16,890,000 sought from international partners. This funding will support initiatives such as creating a centralized Environmental Knowledge Management System (EKMS), implementing public awareness campaigns, and developing a National Climate Change Trust Fund.
Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the EPA, framed this plan as a pivotal step in enhancing environmental governance and underscored the significance of decentralization to involve local communities in protecting their environments. He reiterated the agency’s commitment to transparency and effective stakeholder engagement throughout the implementation process.
Minister of Commerce and Board Chair Magdalene Dagoseh reflected on the importance of collective action in achieving environmental sustainability. “This strategic plan serves as a roadmap for the agency’s future, providing clear direction and focus,” she stated, calling upon all stakeholders to take ownership and work collaboratively towards the plan’s objectives.
Highlighting Liberia’s environmental context, statistics reveal that the country is home to approximately 43% of the remaining rainforest in West Africa. However, deforestation rates are alarming, with about 2% of forest cover lost annually, primarily due to logging, mining, and agricultural expansion. Additionally, Liberia faces significant threats from climate change, which could result in a projected economic loss of up to 4% of GDP by 2030 if left unaddressed.
E. Abraham T. Tumbey Jr., Program Coordinator of Inclusive Green Growth at the UNDP, emphasized the importance of the ongoing partnership between the UNDP and the EPA, vowing continued support for environmental initiatives that align with the strategic goals outlined in the new plan.
