(Freetown, Sierra Leone – March 19, 2024) – The Executive Director of Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo has called for stronger cross-border collaboration to protect biodiversity and tackle climate change in the Mano River Union (MRU) region. The conference which began on Tuesday 18 March is expected to climax on Thursday 20 March 2025. The high-profile event is bringing together community leaders, environmental activists, government officials, and international conservation organizations.

Speaking at Sierra Leone’s National Forest and Climate Forum at the Bintu Manina Conference Center on Tuesday in Freetown, he emphasized the urgent need for a united approach to safeguard shared natural resources.

Dr. Yarkpawolo highlighted the environmental threats facing the region, recalling a major incident last year when the Cavalla River was polluted by a mining company in Ivory Coast. He noted that Liberia and Ivory Coast worked together to address the issue, but such challenges require ongoing cooperation. He also referenced concerns raised during his visit to Sierra Leone’s EPA, where a participant described how the once-clean Mano River, which separates Liberia and Sierra Leone, has been heavily polluted due to mining activities on both sides. He warned that without regional collaboration, these vital water sources would continue to suffer, affecting communities that rely on them.

He proposed a structured approach to transboundary conservation, likening it to a pyramid. At the top, he said, the MRU would serve as the policy arm, ensuring environmental protection remains a priority for regional leaders. Below them, government environmental agencies would act as technical bodies, collecting data and implementing policies. At the base, local communities—who live along the borders and share cultural and ecological knowledge—would play a key role in conservation efforts. He stressed that communities on both sides of the border often share the same traditions and should be actively engaged in protecting their natural resources.

Dr. Yarkpawolo also called for a united front in climate change negotiations, proposing that the MRU countries form a regional climate bloc to amplify their voices on the global stage. He noted that with Liberia being home to the largest remaining forests in West Africa, the region has the potential to lead discussions on climate action and secure better policies and funding.

He urged policymakers, environmental agencies, and local communities to work together to protect the region’s biodiversity and address climate change. He emphasized that the opportunity for regional unity exists and should be used wisely to safeguard natural resources for future generations.

On the sidelines of the Sierra Leone National Forest and Climate Forum, Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo met with the Secretary General of the Mano River Union (MRU), Ambassador Simeon M.B. Moribah, to discuss strengthening cross-border collaboration on natural resource management.

Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized the importance of protecting shared resources like the Mano River and transboundary forests such as the Gola Konah Forest.

He noted that Liberia and Sierra Leone must work together to safeguard these vital ecosystems, as environmental challenges continue to threaten water bodies and forests across the region.

In response, Amb. Moribah acknowledged the MRU’s ongoing efforts in identifying critical ecosystems that require protection, including shared resources between Liberia and its neighboring countries—Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast.

He revealed that the MRU has already begun work in five key ecosystems and emphasized the importance of a coordinated regional approach.

Dr. Yarkpawolo welcomed the progress made and highlighted the urgent need for watershed management. He shared his observations from a recent visit to Lofa County, where the St. Paul River’s water levels were alarmingly low. He stressed that without proper intervention, rivers across the region could continue to face severe environmental degradation.

Amb. Moribah further explained that major rivers in West Africa originate from the Futa Jallon Mountains and that the MRU has plans to establish a River Basin Authority to manage these crucial water sources.

He noted that similar authorities exist in Senegal and other areas, but a dedicated basin management system is needed for the MRU countries.

Also present at the meeting was Liberia’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Angie Kolu Nynemah Lavela Von Ballmoos. She commended both leaders for prioritizing environmental sustainability and expressed her office’s full support for collaboration between the EPA and the MRU.

She emphasized the importance of climate change adaptation, noting that while mitigation efforts are essential, the region must also prepare for the inevitable impacts of climate change.

In conclusion, Dr. Yarkpawolo and Amb. Moribah agreed that Liberia, with its vast forest resources, should take 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 in Liberia and the broader Mano River sub-region.

The two leaders also committed to holding a follow-up meeting to develop concrete strategies for environmental cooperation.

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