October 31,2024 – The Liberian delegation at the Conference of Parties (COP 16) in Cali, Colombia, led by EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, has issued a strong appeal for the operationalization of the Global Biodiversity Fund.
Speaking during the high-level segment of the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Dr. Yarkpawolo urged all nations and parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to enhance international cooperation in biodiversity conservation efforts and to advocate more vigorously for the urgent implementation of the Global Biodiversity Fund.

Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized that developed countries must honor their global commitments to provide financial resources and technical support to developing nations like Liberia. He highlighted that Liberia’s biodiversity and natural resources are vital for the social and economic well-being of its people. He positioned Liberia’s ecosystems not only as national treasures but also as critical components of the ecological balance within the region.
The EPA Executive Director proudly noted that Liberia is home to over 42% of the remaining Upper Guinea Rainforest in West Africa, asserting the country’s role as a steward of this unique and essential landscape.

During his address, Dr. Yarkpawolo detailed several national initiatives aimed at promoting biodiversity conservation and management. He pointed out that Liberia has set ambitious national targets in alignment with the Global Biodiversity Framework and is actively developing a revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan as part of the Government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
Additionally, he revealed that Liberia is in the process of formulating its vision for achieving Target 3 through a national 30×30 action plan. Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized that these initiatives are comprehensive and inclusive, involving collaboration across all levels of government and various sectors of society.

On this occasion, Dr. Yarkpawolo reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to prioritizing the conservation and sustainable use of its essential ecosystems, which support community livelihoods, regulate the climate, and play a crucial role in preventing the spread of diseases.
He concluded by reminding the parties of their shared responsibilities as custodians of the planet’s biodiversity: “These resources are not ours alone — they are our legacy for generations to come.”

“This is the responsibility we bear, and it is a duty we must honor,” Dr. Yarkpawolo affirmed.
He also took the opportunity to inform the international community of Liberia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the 2026-2027 term.
The 16th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Cali, Colombia, was attended by representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia, the Forestry Development Authority, the University of Liberia, and various Conservation Civil Society Organizations.