Protected areas

Cornerstones of biodiversity conservation
Country Profile: Liberia
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Focal point contact information

Mr. Nathaniel T. Blama
Planning Officer, Project Manager, PA
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Monrovia, Liberia
E-Mail: natpolo2000 [ at ] yahoo.com
Country Statistics
111369 km² 4.65% 0.01%
total country area
 terestrial area protected
(16718.07 km²)		 territorial waters protected
(17.86 km²)
Source: WDPA

Information on the reporting framework

Person completing the survey: Nathaniel T. Blama, Sr.
Survey completed on 10/9/2009
Multi-stakeholder advisory committee Yes No
Strategic action plan for implementing PoWPA Yes No
Lead agency responsible for implementing the action plan: The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia will take the lead in the implementation of the strategic action plan when it is complete

Progress in Implementation

Element 1

Strengthening protected areas systems and sites

1.1 Progress in assessing ecological gaps and representativeness

1.2 Progress in assessing integration and connectivity

View assessment results

Progress: 3 - Significant progress, nearly complete

View actions to improve integration
Changed the legal status and/or governance in key connectivity areas

Sapo National Park was expended

Created new protected areas in key connectivity areas

No comments provided

Improved natural ressource management to improve connectivity

No comments provided

Designated connectivity corridors and/or buffers

No comments provided

Changed awareness and behavior of key stakeholders in key connectivity

No comments provided

Improved laws and policies within or around key connectivity areas

There has been lots of work done in this area with the involvement of multi stakeholder including the government, Civil Society, International and National NGOs

Changed land use planning, zoning and/or buffers in key connectivity areas

This is been looked at

Removed barriers to connectivity and ecological functioning

This is been looked at

Integrated protected areas into poverty reduction strategies

This is been looked at

1.3 Progress in assessing transboundary opportunities

View assessment results

Progress: 2 - Activity fully underway

View actions to improve transboundary protected areas
Created transboundary protected area/s

We are working actively at the sub regional level with the peoples of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Cote d' Ivoire in establishing transboundry PA for the purpose of conservation of nature

Contributed to the creation of regional-scale conservation corridors

No comment provided

Created enabling policies for the creation of transboundary protected

There are on going enabling activities

Established a multi-country coordination mechanism

There are on going enabling activities

1.4 Progress in developing management plans

View assessment results

Percentage of protected areas with a management plan: 0-5%

View actions to improve management planning

No data available

1.5 Progress in assessing protected area threats

View assessment results

Progress: 2 - Activity fully underway

View actions to mitigate and prevent threats

No data available

Element 2

Governance, equity, participation and benefits sharing

2.1 Equity, Benefits and Governance

View assessment results

Progress: 1 - Just started, limited progress

View actions to improve equitable sharing

No data available

View progress made in assessing protected area governance

Progress made in assessing protected area governance: 0 - Not yet begun, no progress

Percentage of protected areas assigned an IUCN category: 0-5%

View actions to improve and diversify governance types

No data available

2.2 Indigenous and Local Communities

View assessment results

Progress: 1 - Just started, limited progress

View actions to improve indigenous and local community particiapation
Improved laws and/or policies to promote participation

There are improved laws and policies to promote communities participation

Increased participation of indigenous and local communities in key decisions

Respondent has not provided a 'yes' answer but the following comment. "Somehow being practiced but not in full context "

Other actions to strengthen equitable benefits sharing

Respondent has not provided a 'yes' answer but the following comment. "We periodically conduct town hall meetings"

Element 3

Protected area enabling environment

3.1 Policy, Institutional and Socio-Economic Environment

View assessment results

Progress: 1 - Just started, limited progress

View actions to improve the protected area policy environment
Harmonized sectoral policies laws to suppport effective management planning and policies

Being considered

Improved accountability and/or participation in decision-making

Somehow being considered but not in its full context

Strengthened legal systems for establishing and managing protected areas

Somehow being considered but not in its full context

Cooperated with neighboring countries on transboundary areas

Efforts are on the way

View progress made in assessing the contribution of protected areas to national economy

Progress: 1 - Just started, limited progress

View actions to value the contribution of protected areas

No data available

3.2, 3.3 & 3.5 Protected Area Capacity, Technology and Education

View assessment results

Progress: 1 - Just started, limited progress

View actions to improve capacity, the use of appropriate technology and/or strengthen education programs
Trained protected area staff

Efforts are on the way

3.4 Sustainable Finance

View assessment results

Progress: 0 - Not yet begun, no progress

Actions to improve the sustainable finance of protected areas

No data available

Element 4

Standards, assessment and monitoring

4.1 & 4.2 Management Effectiveness and Best Practices

View assessment results

Progress: 1 - Just started, limited progress

Percent of protected areas assessed for management effectiveness: 0-5%

View actions to improve management processes within protected areas
Improved management system and processes

Somehow being considered but not in its full context

4.3 & 4.4 Monitoring and Research

View assessment results

Progress: 1 - Just started, limited progress

View actions to improve protected area research and monitoring
Assessed the status and trend of key biodiversity

Some of level of research work has been done there by international nongovernmental organizations

Developed or improved a biological monitoring program

there are also some level of work been done there by international nongovernmental organizations

Improved protected area research on socio-economic issues

Not much has been done in this area