In regions like West Africa, where rich biodiversity intersects with communities and livestock, early detection of wildlife health threats such as diseases, pathogens, and toxic agents, is crucial to better prevent outbreaks affecting both people and animals.
Effective wildlife health surveillance is not only key to safeguarding human and animal health, but also vital to inform nature conservation, and for protecting ecosystems and livelihoods.
Liberia, for instance, recognised these potential benefits to protect its people and animals and hosted a three-day workshop focused on enhancing wildlife health surveillance in Tubmanburg City, Bomi, Liberia, from 8-10 March, 2025 bringing together over 30 participants from key national and international organisations.
The workshop, part of a broader initiative to strengthen One Health approaches, was organised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in partnership with The Forestry Development Authority of Liberia (FDA), the Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the IUCN SSC Wildlife Health Specialist Group (WHSG). The workshop was hosted at the Forestry Training Institute of Liberia.
The workshop’s participants came from a range of organisations, including the FDA, SCNL, the Ministry of Agriculture (including the Epidemiology Unit and Central Veterinary Laboratory) of Liberia, Liberia One Health Coordination Platform, IUCN, WOAH, Africa One Health University Network (AFROHUN), and the University of Liberia. WOAH Wildlife Focal Points from Ghana and from Liberia also contributed their expertise, supporting cross-border dialogue and shared learning.
The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to engage with the Guidelines for the Surveillance of Diseases, Pathogens, and Toxic Agents in Free-Ranging Wildlife.
Released in September 2024, these guidelines aim to support the implementation of national wildlife surveillance programs and promote a unified understanding of health monitoring in wildlife. The guidelines, developed by IUCN and WOAH, are designed to assist countries in strengthening surveillance systems through a One Health approach.
The workshop also provided insights into Liberia’s progress in wildlife health surveillance. The country’s One Health coordination initiatives and One Health trainings for protected area and allied staff have laid the groundwork for current initiatives. Liberia’s rangers are interested in contributing to regular wildlife health surveillance, but there is a recognised need for further training and more structured systems.
