Conservation Stakeholders in Liberia on March 3, 2022 joined other Countries the World over in observance of World Wildlife Day with a strong warning from the Forestry Development Authority to go after anyone caught violating the wildlife and conservation laws of the Country.
FDA Managing Director Mike Doyen said his entity will not relent in arresting and prosecuting those involved with the hunting, eating and trading of bush meat especially those protected by law.
Liberia Wildlife law of 2016 prohibits wildlife trade. However the FDA Boss said the FDA will make appropriate use of the law to stop bush meat trade in Liberia.
The FDA Boss argued that no one will use the issue of alternative livelihood to destroy the Country’s forest and wildlife population and vowed to use the law in bringing to an end such practice.
Mr. Doyen told the gathering of Conservationists that the FDA Baby Elephants has been rescued by Rangers in a community around the Belleh forest in Gbarpolu County in Western Liberia.
He said the FDA has however launched an investigation to establish whether the parents of the rescued baby elephant are still alive or not.
Mr. Doyen said the FDA will not rest until they know the status of the parents’ elephants.
Senate Committee Chair on Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mine and Energy, Dr. Jim Tornonlah assured that his Senate especially his committee will work along with the FDA to ensure that the Country wildlife and ecosystem are protected in the interest of the Country.
Senator Tornonlah said besides this latest commitment, as Senator he was very much instrumental in championing the passage of the Gola Forest National Park and Grabo-Krahn National Park Acts as well as the Wildlife law.
He maintained that passion and support for sustainable forest management remains overwhelming and praised the resilience of the FDA and partners for invested in the protection and management of the forest and wildlife.
Delivering her keynote address, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the UK Embassy in Monrovia, Kate Thompson, pledged her government’s support to the protection of Liberia’s biodiversity.
Madam Thompson said the UK government is currently working with conservation organization to protect the Country’s wildlife and ecosystem.
She said anything relating to biodiversity is relevant to the United Kingdom because the Country holds the presidency of the COP-26.
Madam Thompson said the UK was very pleased with the commitment made by President George Weah in Glassco to ensure the protection of Liberia’s wildlife and forest.
She argued that there should be no placed for people breaking the wildlife and conservation laws.
Madam Thompson however called for robust enforcement of the laws to stop those threatening the ecosystem.
The program was jointly organized by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and several national and international partners including the Society for the Conservation of nature (SCNL), Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary, ELRECO, Liberia Chimpanzee, Conservation International (CI), Foundation (WCF), Humane Society International (HIS), Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Others are the Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture, National Public Health Institute, UK Embassy, USAID, Wabiled, EU and UNFAO-ECTAD, among others.
