(Freetown, Sierra Leone – March 19, 2024) – Top officials from Liberia and the Mano River Union (MRU) have issued a resounding call for heightened cross-border collaboration to safeguard biodiversity and address the escalating challenges of climate change across the region. The urgent plea was made during Sierra Leone’s National Forest and Climate Forum, held at the Bintu Manina Conference Center in Freetown, which convened community leaders, environmental advocates, government representatives, and international conservation organizations from March 18-20, 2024.
Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), delivered a compelling address, emphasizing the critical need for a unified regional approach to protect shared natural resources. He highlighted the severe environmental threats facing the MRU, citing the recent pollution of the Cavalla River by a mining company in Ivory Coast and the ongoing degradation of the Mano River due to mining activities on both the Liberian and Sierra Leonean sides.
“Without robust regional collaboration, these vital water sources will continue to suffer, severely impacting the communities that depend on them,” Dr. Yarkpawolo warned.
He proposed a structured, multi-tiered approach to transboundary conservation, envisioning the MRU as the policy-making apex, national environmental agencies as the technical backbone, and local communities as the grassroots implementers. He stressed the importance of engaging border communities, who possess invaluable cultural and ecological knowledge, in conservation efforts.
Dr. Yarkpawolo also advocated for a unified MRU climate bloc to amplify the region’s voice on the global stage. He noted Liberia’s significant forest resources and its potential to lead discussions on climate action and secure better policies and funding.
On the sidelines of the forum, Dr. Yarkpawolo met with Ambassador Simeon M.B. Moribah, Secretary General of the MRU, to discuss strengthening cross-border natural resource management. They emphasized the importance of protecting shared resources such as the Mano River and the Gola Konah Forest.
Amb. Moribah acknowledged the MRU’s ongoing efforts to identify and protect critical ecosystems, including shared resources between Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. He revealed that the MRU has initiated work in five key ecosystems and stressed the need for a coordinated regional approach.
Dr. Yarkpawolo underscored the urgent need for watershed management, citing alarmingly low water levels in the St. Paul River in Liberia’s Lofa County. Amb. Moribah responded by outlining the MRU’s plans to establish a River Basin Authority to manage major rivers originating from the Futa Jallon Mountains, drawing parallels with successful models in Senegal and other regions.
Liberia’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Angie Kolu Nynemah Lavela Von Ballmoos, also attended the meeting, expressing her full support for collaboration between the EPA and the MRU and emphasizing the importance of climate change adaptation.
Dr. Yarkpawolo and Amb. Moribah agreed that Liberia, with its extensive forest resources, should assume a leadership role in cross-border resource management within the MRU. They pledged to support each other in promoting sustainability, advancing climate change initiatives, and preserving biodiversity. They also committed to a follow-up meeting to develop concrete strategies for environmental cooperation.
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