Africa-Press – Liberia. The Gola-Foya Forest Landscape and surrounding forests continue to grapple with long-standing development challenges, particularly the poor roads network.
The Gola-Foya Forest Landscape and surrounding forests are a part of the Upper Guinea Forest, which are rich in biodiversity and contributing to climate mitigation.
These infrastructural deficiencies significantly hinder access to healthcare, education and markets for forest-dependent communities in Gbarpolu and Grand Cape Mount Counties.
The Society for Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL) recognizes these pressing challenges and remains actively engaged in ongoing discussions with international partners, government institutions, and local communities to address them.
Improving road access and basic services in the Gola-Foya landscape necessitates collaborative efforts, with the Government taking a leadership role.
This requires strategic planning, resource mobilization and partnerships that effectively balance conservation with community development.
It is essential to acknowledge that no single institution can tackle these national challenges, the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and the Government of Liberia(GoL) bear primary responsibilities in this regard.
In light of this, SCNL strongly condemns the FDA unjust portrayal of SCNL in its assessment report, which claims that “SCNL has produced no visible development benefits despite promoting forest conservation” in the Gola-Foya landscape. Such assertions do not accurately reflect SCNL’s 16 years of sustained commitment, investment, and conservation efforts in the region, which the FDA is aware of.
SCNL has consistently engaged with government entities, local communities, and conservation stakeholders to conserve forests, support community initiatives, and uphold Liberia’s national and global conservation commitments.
Notably, SCNL is supporting the Government to bring under conservation over 230,000 hectares of forests and has employed nearly 400 youths in income-generating activities, including ecoguards, ecobrigades, community mobilization officers, research assistants, community liaisons, etc.
Moreover, SCNL has made significant contributions to local infrastructure and community welfare, including supplying 60 motorcycles to the region to enhance local transportation, renovating and electrifying six schools and clinics with solar energy, erecting 19 hand pumps, constructing a standard concrete bridge between SLC and Kongbor and establishing a revolving fund of over 15 million Liberian dollars, providing access to loans for local women.
SCNL remains passionate and fully committed to conservation in Liberia and will leverage all available resources to defend this mission.
At the same time, SCNL is opened to meaningful and constructive dialogue that addresses the challenges facing the Gola-Foya landscape.
‘‘We urge the FDA to refrain from unfairly targeting partners in pursuit of agendas that do not ultimately benefit forest communities, as we do not see what was left behind for the locals by previous logging and mining companies except open mines, degraded lands and benefits for few. Instead, we advocate for fostering collaboration rooted in respect, transparency, and shared responsibility. As a signatory to most Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), the Government must uphold its commitments and sustain the gains made by funding partners such as the EU, UN, USA, UK, Sweden, GEF, Norway, and Rainforest Trust among others.’’
‘‘We anticipate that management agencies like the FDA will ensure that the GoL meets its 30×30 targets and does not hinder progress. It is concerning that no new protected areas have been established in the past eight years, including under the current administration,’ SCNL added.
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