Two American conservationists and researchers have dedicated a state-of –the –Art Sanctuary and conservation center in Liberia to accommodate vulnerable rescued chimpanzees from the hands of community dwellers and poachers for protection.
The project valued more than US$700,000 was dedicated in Charlesville lower Margibi County along the Farmington river ecosystem about 62 kilometers away from the capital Monrovia.
The facility was constructed by the Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection (LCRP), an organization founded an American couple and conservationists Dr. Jim Desmond and his wife, Jenny Desmond.
The dedicatory program was attended by Representatives of the Liberian Government, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, including the Ambassadors of the European Union and the United Kingdom, representative from USAID and other local and International Conservation organizations working in Liberia.
Performing the dedication on May 28, 2021, Foreign Liberia’s Minister Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayeh expressed a high degree of delight over the initiative and pledged the government of Liberia unweaving support to ensuring the protection of wildlife and the protected areas across the Country.
Minister Kemayah said while government supports the concept and idea of alternative livelihood for forest communities, it cannot be the justification for people to destroy the forest resources at the detriment of the larger population.
He reaffirmed the government of Liberia commitment to fostering the policy of sustainable forest management consistent with international best practices.
Minister Kemayan recognized the efforts and roles play by the Desmonds for the past six years working to ensure the protection of Liberia’s biodiversity especially chimpanzees.
“Biodiversity is very key to our survival as a people and we take proud in the protection of our forest, he added”
We want to call on the U.S. government, EU and UK to continue their support not just in the forest sector but in every sector of our governance system, he said.
UK Ambassador to Liberia, Neil Bradley added that the country could protect its biodiversity by building sustainable alternative livelihood for its people-creating jobs and working with vulnerable communities to turn poachers into perfectos
“Your forest and wildlife are your national treasure and it must be protected to benefit not just this generation but future generation.
“Eliminating poverty is one of the only true long term solutions to illegal wildlife trade by engaging eco-tourism, training eco-guard and other alternative job initiatives”
“UK is pleased to partner with Liberia in safeguarding her nature environment” he added
“It is also important to strengthen Liberia law enforcement capacity to combat illegal wildlife trade because the size of the trade worldwide is estimated at USD$24 billion annually and if you add illegal logging and fishing it would amount to USD$200 billion”, Ambassador Bardley indicated.
“The trade creates corruption, instability, threaten species with extinction, and deprive some of the world most porous communities of sustainable livelihood,” Ambassador Bradley.
EU pledges support
For his part, European Union ambassador to Liberia Laurent Delahousse said: “We need to make a u-turn from destroying the wildlife and the ecosystem to remember that human do not survived without oxygen, biodiversity and without nature.
Wildlife are not pets, they have role to play in the in the forest and this is biggest us, this is biggest than just eating bush meat as a dinner, this about making sure that the planet survived so that we as human survive”, he further expressed.
Ambassador Delahoussa said the dedication of the new sanctuary and conservation center marked earlier partnership the EU forged with the Liberia government to not only improve the protection of Liberia’s wildlife but to also supports Liberia’s efforts to enforcing national and international laws and regulations.
“This partnership has translated into reality in the last two years with the creation of the Confiscation Unit within the Forestry Development Authority, but also capacity building of the Judiciary”, he reflected.
“The holding facility will help to improve the lives of the chimpanzees but yet these facilities should confuse as a good and sustainable solution for the chimpanzees.”
“It’s crucial for the new sanctuary and conservation unit form part of the overall governance process of Liberia and let we say we are aware of the significant progress being made by the government in promoting sustainable forest management in Liberia”. Ambassador Delahousse.
He pledged the EU unflinching support to the government of Liberia efforts to ensure the protection and management of Liberia’s forest resources and encouraged the government continues with the right balance between sustainable forest management and conservation in keeping with best practices.
Ambassador Delahousse noted that upper Guinea forest is Liberia’s greatest treasure which must be governed well.
Also speaking at the dedicatory ceremony, USAID Director of Economic Growth Office, Liberia, John Pasch, expressed the United States government’s support to working along with the Forestry Development Authority to setup more conservation centers in the Country.
Mr. Pasch noted that prosecution is the best way to curve wildlife trafficking and save the life of chimpanzees.
“The US government stands ready to support Liberia and partners in the conservation sector in the realization of sustainable forest management in Liberia.”
Fighting Wildlife crime
Liberia Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Managing Director C. Mike Doyen said the construction and dedication of the facilities represents hope and disclosed efforts in fighting wildlife crimes.
Mr. Doyen said the FDA remains committed to upholding and enforcing of all forest laws as evidence by the arrest and forwarding to court of fifteen suspects for prosecution on account of wildlife crimes.
“We have secure thirteen convictions and amongst the convicts is an elephant killing currently facing ten years imprisonment,” Mr. Doyen said.
“Today I can report to you that what seem as a successful wildlife market has been destroyed and neutralized and that the trade has stop”, he insisted.
Dr. Jim Desmond and his wife Jenny Desmond said the facilities are intended to cater for vulnerable chimpanzees kept as pets by community dwellers and poachers.
They said they would do all in their power to rescue and protect vulnerable chimpanzees for the purpose of returning them to the forest to reconnect with their colleagues.
Dr. Desmond and his wife said they would also endeavor to create eco-tourism site at the sanctuary to showcase Liberia’s chimp while undergoing protection and treatment.
The project was funded by the EU and other Conservation Organizations from the United States and other parts of the world.
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