Focus on Liberia, West Africa
Newsletter: Volume1, Issue 1 - April 2004
Some may ask why Forest Partners International has chosen to
work in Liberia, West Africa. After all, news from that region
of the world has not been favorable in recent years.
 It
is true that Liberia has been the source of much bad news over
the last 15 years. Some would ask why attempt conservation work
in a country ravaged by civil conflict that has left the country
in economic and social ruin.
However, civil conflict does not change the fact that Liberia
is also a global conservation priority. Located between Sierra
Leone and the Ivory Coast, Liberia is about the size of Tennessee.
It retains 42% of its forest cover and two of the three remaining
large blocks of Upper Guinea lowland rainforest.
These forests are rich in biodiversity, with 125 mammal species,
590 birds, 74 reptiles and amphibians, and over 2,300 species
of vascular plants. For all West Africa, Liberia may be the best
hope of conserving the forests and wildlife of the Upper Guinea
Forest.
The primary threats to forests and wildlife are habitat fragmentation
due to logging, mining, and shifting agriculture, and overexploitation
of wildlife for subsistence and commercial purposes.
The government and international conservation organizations are
working hard to provide protection to Sapo National Park, Liberia's
only fully protected park. Ultimately the success of conservation
measures may depend on the rural poor around the Park and living
in the remaining forest blocks.
Given that Liberia is a conservation priority, with great needs,
and where the future of forests and wildlife may depend upon the
assistance of the rural poor, FPI believes it is a perfect place
to work.
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