Mandate

Design and implement biodiversity protection programs, supervise and monitor all activities related to conservation and protected areas management;

Ensure sustainable utilization of wildlife and formulate policies and regulations for management of biodiversity and protected areas;

Implement all international conventions and treaties relating to biodiversity and protected areas management (RAMSA, CITTES, CBD, CMS, etc)

Promote public awareness, education and community participation in wildlife and protected areas management;

Design and maintain guidelines for development of ecotourism; Liaise with other departments of the FDA, line government ministries/agencies, and local and international partners implement policies/programs.

The Department is composed of three divisions:

1. Wildlife Management
2. Protected Areas Management
3. Awareness and Ecotourism

Achievements

• Developed Protected Areas Network Strategic Plan
• Identified three Protected Areas (Wonegisi, Lake Piso, Gola) for gazetting in 2007/2008
• Prepared and presented proposals to the World Bank for funding of the three protected areas
• Submitted proposals for demarcation of existing Protected Areas for approval
• Designed and conducted bio-monitoring programs which was funded by FFI in the Sapo National Park
• Coordinated the deployment of Conservation staff to the field
• With the financial assistance of CI, developed and implemented programs to support income generation activities in rural communities around the Sapo National Park
• Drafted the Wildlife Management Law
• Participated in Trans-boundary initiative discussions concerning Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia

January 17, 2008

PUBLIC NOTICE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PROTECTED FOREST AREAS

The Government of Liberia through the Forestry Development Authority – FDA – is pleased to notify the public, including communities along the fringes of the Gola National Forest in Gbarpolu County, Wonegizi National Forest in Lofa County and Proposed Lake Piso Multiple Sustainable Use Reserve in Grand Cape Mount County, that appropriate actions are been taken to upgrade and incorporate them into a National Protected Forest Areas Network in accordance with Chapter 9 Section 1 of the National Forestry Reform Law of 2006.

RATIONALE

1.         Gola National Forest is endowed with significant biodiversity richness (endemic amphibians, elephants, hippos, birds, plants, etc.) and a number of unique habitats such as forests, gallery forest, swamp forest and farm bushes.  The most evident opportunities include:

(i)                  good funding potential based on charismatic fauna (elephants, hippos), trans boundary conservation potential, security of border area and eco-tourism potential;

(ii)                lessons learned from Gola in Sierra Leone in terms of management experience, biological data, community exchanges and fund raising experience;

(iii)               potential effectiveness of trans boundary/peace park management leading to coordinated response to threats; and

(iv)              being regarded as hotspot  in the Upper Guinea Forest.

2.                  Wonegizi National Forest Reserve:  Biodiversity richness includes chimps and other primates (endangered), elephants, pygmy hippo (flagship spp for Liberia).  Wonegizi is a unique habitat for Picathartes (rock fowl).  Conservation opportunities include:

(i)                  steepness of slope as a disincentive for farming;

(ii)                funding from IUCN, Birdlife, USAID, MIKE, KFW, CEPF, FDA, Great Apes;

(iii)               research attention;

(iv)              ecotourism potential (species, culture, scenery);

(v)                extension of Guinea Forest (500,000 ha only);

(vi)              corridor (Wonegizi) into Guinea;

(vii)             trans boundary nature (peace park); and

(viii)           scattered farming communities offer opportunity for integrating community land use practices in protected areas management (e.g. buffer zones).

3.                  Proposed Lake Piso Multiple Sustainable Use Reserve:

Biodiversity richness includes migratory bird species, sea turtles, hippos, manatees, primates, fish species and medicinal plants.  No other proposed protected forest areas in Liberia have such a variety of habitats and ecosystems such as coastal, marine, forest, mangrove, brackish water, island, freshwater habitats are present in Lake Piso.  The main opportunities are:

(i)                  very unique marine biodiversity and mangroves breeding ground for important marine species;

(ii)                enough baseline data for establishing a PA1; and

(iii)               potential for funding from tourism, research and fishery sectors as well as high interest for investment in area including some private US funds.  The main threats are deforestation of mangroves, unregulated fishing, hunting, farming and settlements on hills, high population due to the presence of a town and the vicinity of Monrovia, port development, erosion of dunes (sand mining) and off shore mining for oil.

The FDA Management will wholeheartedly welcome comments/feedbacks from the public on government’s intention.  Comments/feedbacks should be addressed to:

The Technical Manager

Department of Forest Conservation

Forestry Development Authority

Monrovia, Liberia

Email:  theo1949@yahoo.com

DRAFT HUNTING REGULATION OF LIBERIA

WHEREAS, the Act creating the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), approved November 1, 1976 and published on December 20, 1976 conferred upon the Forestry Development Authority the power to promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary to execute or implement the objectives of this Act, and;

WHEREAS, the Act creating the FDA further empowered the Authority to prescribe licenses, permits and other instruments and in like manner, amend, revoke such licenses, permits or instruments as may be necessary to connect the forestry sector to the overall national economy (Section 3d);

WHEREAS, the National Forestry Reform Law of 2006 empowers the FDA to control the use of wildlife, control hunting to achieve sustainable harvest, control trade in wildlife, and establish requirements for the issuance of hunting certificates and licenses;
and, WHEREAS, 70% of Liberia’s population who lives in the rural area depends on wildlife for protein;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Management of the Forestry Development Authority does hereby rule and regulate the following regarding the hunting of wild animals within the Republic of Liberia:

Section 1: Definitions

Authority means the Forestry Development Authority

Authorized officer means an officer of the Authority designated as an enforcement officer by the Authority in writing, a police officer, or any other public officer

Bush meat means the product of any vertebrate including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and insects of every description but does not include any fish or domestic animal.
Bush meat trade means the selling, buying, bartering, hawking, exchanging, offering, or exposing for sale of wildlife or bush meat.

Bush meat trader means a person who buys or trades Bushmeat with the intent to resell or trade.

Commercial hunting means hunting activities and operations undertaken for financial gain or other compensation.

Controlled hunting area means an area declared as a Controlled Hunting Area by regulation of the Authority under the 2006 Forestry Reform Law.

Designated Area means any controlled hunting area or other area declared to be a designated area by the Authority.

Firearm means a weapon, especially a pistol, rifle, or shotgun capable of firing a projectile and using an explosive charge as a propellant.

Fishing means to catch or attempt to catch fish by any method.

Fully protected species means any animal species prohibited from any killing or possessing under the Wildlife Laws of Liberia.

Game Reserve means an area set aside by regulation for a fixed period to immediately protect an important feature or to allow the recovery or growth of natural species.

Hunter means any person who attempts to kill, capture, take, trap, injure, shoot at, lie in wait for, willfully disturb or molest any animal.

Hunting means to kill, capture, take, trap, injure, shoot at, lie in wait for, willfully disturb or molest, and include any attempt to do any of these things.

Partially protected species means any animal species regulated by the Wildlife Law, besides those listed in CHAPTER VI, Section 35 of the Law.

Professional hunter means a hunter licensed by the Authority to guide clients for hunting.

Protected animals means animals that are protected by law and are illegal to hunt, kill, or possess without authorization from the Authority. A list of protected animals is found in Section II of this Regulation.

Snare means a trapping device, often made out of wire or rope consisting of a noose, used for capturing animals.

Sport/trophy Hunter means any hunter who hunts to obtain wildlife or its derivative parts/products for souvenir.

Sport/trophy Hunting means hunting activities undertaken to obtain wildlife or its derivative parts/products for souvenir.

Trade means to sell, buy, barter, exchange, hawk, offer or expose for sale

Weapon means any instrument capable of inflicting death or serious bodily harm such as a gun, knife, or cutlass.

Wild animal means any animal, vertebrate or invertebrate including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibian, and insects of every description but does not include any fish or domestic animals.

Wildlife means any vertebrate or invertebrate including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and insects of every description but does not include any fish or domestic animals.

Wildlife trade means the buying, selling or exchange of wildlife.

Section II: Fully Protected Animals of Liberia

This list shall be modified whenever the Authority deems it necessary to reflect new information on the status of protected animals. Some of the species on the list are also on CITES list of endangered species.