The National Environmental Policy of Liberia

The Environment Protection and Management Law

2. 
   Laws for Conservation, Sustainable Use and Benefit Sharing of Biodiversity
   

The country has not developed any specific laws to address the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. However, the Environment Protection and Management Law provides for conservation and sustainable use, but there is no provision for access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of their use. There is thus the need for preparing a national environmental action plan (NEAP) and to revise the Environment Protection and Management Law to address the three objectives of the Convention.

2. 
   Institutional Settings for Biodiversity Management and Conservation
   

1. 
   Inadequate trained personnel and misplacement of available personnel
   
2. 
   Lack of basic facilities and infrastructure
   
3. 
   Low level of public participation
   
4. 
   Poverty
   
5. 
   Inadequate public education
   
6. 
   Insufficient political will
   
7. 
   Inadequate policy and legislation
   
8. 
   Lack of coordination and cohesion
   

Principal authority for the management of the environment, and mandated to coordinate, monitor, supervise and consult with relevant stakeholders on all activities in the protection of the environment and sustainable use of natural resources; promotes environmental awareness and implementation of the national environmental policy and the environmental protection and management law; oversees the implementation of international environment related conventions.

Responsible to sustainably manage the forest and its related resources. Provides long and middle-range planning in the forestry sector as well as preparing forestry policy, law and administration; supervises of adherence to forest legislation and concession agreements; calculates and determines forestry fees; evaluates investment proposals, executes reforestation and forest research and training; monitors activities of timber companies and executes protected area programmes and administers wildlife and national parks.

Plans, executes, administers, manages and supervises agriculture programs and provides extension services; trains local farmers in improved cultural practices, and supplies farm inputs to enhance food security.

Has the statutory responsibility for the development of mineral, water and energy resources of the country and the administration of its lands; in charge of land surveys in all parts of the country; coordinates the activities of miners of gold and diamonds, including granting of operation licenses; regulates beach sand mining and works along with the Ministry of Agriculture and the University of Liberia to conduct training and research on land rehabilitation.

Integrates developmental activities with rural activities; is in charge of the development of farm to market and feeder roads; provides safe drinking water to rural communities; involved in rural planning, low-cost housing projects for the acceleration of rural development, including rural energy generating activities.

The Ministry serves as the direct link between implementing Ministries/Agencies, NGOs, PVOs, and the international community. In addition, MPEA is responsible to:

1. 
   Give technical guidance to all GOL Agencies in the preparation of development programs and projects;
   
2. 
   Review proposals for new development programs and projects on changes in existing programs and projects under consideration in view of the resources available and make recommendation to the national planning council;
   
3. 
   Review progress made on programs and projects, which have been adopted, initiating special investigation into the execution of those programs and projects, and report findings and recommendations to the national council
   

The Ministries coordinates and administers the general health services of the country; ensures the availability of drugs; collects health statistics and monitors events and conditions affecting the general public. The Ministry is in charge of preventive and curative services, and vital statistics for the registration of deaths and births.

The Liberia Mining Company took over from LAMCO JV Operating Company and is placed in charge of the facilities of that company. LIMINCO is therefore responsible for any negotiations regarding exploration of Mount Nimba and future investment of that massif.

The Society for the Conservation Nature of Liberia, founded in 1986, is the oldest and pioneer environmental and Conservation NGO in the country. SCNL conducts research on natural history of Liberia and makes the results widely public. SCNL advocates for the conservation of the forest of Liberia and associated resources, especially wildlife. The Society has been actively involved in advocacy for creation of protected areas. SCNL is involved in bio-monitoring and socio-economic surveys.

Mission is to help empower local farmers to engage in modern, stable farming practices that are sustainable, environmental friendly, and have the propensity to yield significant positive net income. FACE is involved in seed rice multiplication and mangrove conservation. The focus is to promote stable, modern farming systems in order to improve food production and enhance the natural environment.

Promotes environmental awareness, education and action oriented projects in urban and grass-rooted communities. SAED is involved in working in wetlands and water birds management, promoting the alternative sources of energy and promoting and conducting environmental impact assessment as a decision-making tool for sustainable development.

Center for Environmental Education and Protection of Liberia (CEEP) has the mission to contribute to poverty reduction through environmental education and public awareness, lobby and advocacy in sustainable development. CEEP has been engaged in teaching principles and concepts of environment in schools and the communities through workshops and seminars. There are also on-going programmes in health education, population and nutrition mainly for the youth. The organization also provides environmental consultancy.