Developing an inclusive, multi-sectoral approach that engages communities in management of protected areas, gives them a stake in their long-term protection, to conserve Liberia’s rich biodiversity and ensure improved sustainable livelihoods and long-term economic growth and prosperity.
- Client: United States Agency for International Development
- Partners: EcoHealth Alliance, Fauna & Flora International (FFI), Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection (LCRP), and Partners in Development (PADEV)
- Project Duration: November 1, 2021 - September 15, 2024
Project Overview
Liberia contains about 6.6 million hectares of lowland tropical forest that comprises 43 percent of the remaining Upper Guinean forests of West Africa. Most of Liberia’s rural population is dependent on forests for their resources. The rich biodiversity of Liberia’s rainforests is also home to endangered and critically endangered species, such as the pygmy hippopotamus and African forest elephant. Yet, the country’s forests are threatened due to inadequate oversight and enforcement and continued deforestation and forest degradation due to the expansion of agriculture, illegal logging, and mining activities.
To promote the high value of protected areas and conservation-compatible livelihood and revenue generation, the USAID-funded Conservation Works Activity (CWA) used a One Health dimension to bring together diverse disciplines and institutional capabilities well suited to achieve USAID’s goals to conserve biodiversity and enable sustainable economic growth. Accordingly, the project strengthened protected areas (PAs) and other strategic locations in Liberia by supporting protected area development, gazettement, and legal strengthening.
Solimar International’s role in the CW activity was to use ecotourism as a means to attract conservation-compatible investment to Liberia. To achieve this, several key activities were undertaken:
- Creating a policy environment that better supports sustainable tourism development and investment.
- Participating in the planning and marketing of infrastructure and visitor services to harness the potential of Liberia’s Protected Areas Network, generating income, creating jobs, promoting community-based enterprise development, and supporting both conservation and PCA management.
- Training and building the capacity of community members involved in tourism services, aspiring tourism entrepreneurs, guides, small tourism businesses, and Forest Development Authority rangers to provide memorable nature- and culture-based visitor experiences.
- Delivering strategies, tools, techniques, and hands-on technical assistance to effectively market these experiences to a broad range of domestic and international target markets.
Accomplishments
- 197 community members trained in the basics of ecotourism.
- 46 FDA rangers trained in ecotourism awareness, learning how to apply ecotourism principles to their work and interactions with tourists.
- 15 local guides trained in the East Nimba Nature Reserve to prepare them for guiding tourists.
- The East Nimba Nature Reserve Master Physical Land-Use Plan developed in collaboration with stakeholders.
- Landscape plans and architectural renderings created for a proposed One Health Conservation Center and Ecolodge in ENNR, Sapo National Park, and the Marshall Wetlands.
- Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Experience Development and Business Plans created for tourism initiatives in ENNR, Sapo National Park, and Marshall Wetlands.
- An access trail from the Grassfield area to the main trail system in ENNR developed with the United States Forest Service to boost tourism in the Gbapa community.
- Land formalization completed, including a boundary survey and deed, to secure Gbapa ownership of approximately 900 acres and the creation of a 750-acre Community Conservation Area.
- 16,000 copies of brochures for Liberia birding, Marshall Wetlands, ENNR, and Sapo National Park produced and distributed to promote tourism in protected areas.
- National digital tourism marketing of protected areas and other destinations carried out on Liberia’s official tourism website and social media platforms:
- Updated website content reaching 48,000 individuals (3,751% increase from Sept 2022) with 113,000 views over two years
- 23 new blogs posted on Liberia’s official website
- 206 new posts on Instagram and Facebook
