Grebo Krahn and Sapo National Parks, and Proposed Kwa National Park (Liberia): coordination meetings needed

On 28, 29 and 30 April, coordination meetings were held in Zwedru (north-east Liberia) between the various partners involved in the Taï – Grebo Krahn – Sapo transboundary landscape (with Côte d'Ivoire) of the NaturAfrica regional programme, at the instigation of Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and the project’s landscape operator, Wild Chimpanzee Foundation.

With the very useful presence of the four county superintendents in whose counties the parks are located, all partners active in the landscape were also present (NaturAfrica West Africa regional coordination, Society for the Conservation of Nature in Liberia, Universal Outreach, Fauna and Flora, The Nature Compact, etc.). The aim of the meetings was to coordinate NGO activities, seek support and inform the superintendents of ongoing activities and future initiatives.

The discussions were very open and lively. The lack of funding, lack of infrastructure, mining within the Sapo National Park, encroachment by cocoa plantations and lack of coordination between partners, among other issues, were addressed by all participants. It was agreed that better coordination and information sharing would be organised by the implementing partners with the four Superintendents. The FDA was also asked to establish an appropriate coordination protocol to formalise collaboration and to organise an annual symposium on Liberian protected areas to keep stakeholders better informed about opportunities and challenges.

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Photo: The Taï - Grebo-Krahn - Sapo (TGKS) forest complex (straddling Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire) is the last remaining large forest block in West Africa and one of the most important refuges for the conservation of critically endangered West African chimpanzees. Other endangered species, such as western red colobus monkeys (Piliocolobus badius), above, benefit from the protection of these forests and are accustomed to human presence for tourism thanks to the NaturAfrica project. (image: © WCF)