MONROVIA — The Embassy of Ireland has committed €1.5 million toward a three-year project aimed at restoring mangroves, strengthening coastal resilience and improving sustainable livelihoods in Liberia’s southeastern counties of Sinoe and Maryland.
By Francis G. Boayue
The project, titled “Restoring Coastal Resilience: Community-led Mangrove Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods in South-East Liberia,” was officially launched Wednesday, September 30 at Sinkor Palace in Congo Town, outside Monrovia.
The initiative is being implemented by the Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL), with technical support from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
Speaking at the launch, SCNL Executive Director, Michael F. Garbo, welcomed government officials, development partners and other stakeholders, describing the initiative as an important step toward restoring Liberia’s coastal ecosystems.
SCNL Landscape Manager, James P. Mulbah, said the three-year project, running from September 2026 to August 2029, seeks to make coastal communities more resilient through mangrove restoration, livelihood diversification and strengthened local natural resource governance.
The project targets approximately 3,500 beneficiaries, with women expected to constitute at least 40 percent of direct participants and leadership roles.
According to Mulbah, the project will restore 50 hectares of mangroves and 20 hectares of coconut plantations along the coastline. It will also support sustainable fishing through the provision of approved fishing nets, boat engines and energy-efficient fish-drying facilities.
The project will establish or strengthen Village Savings and Loan Associations for women, provide livelihood support and establish nature clubs in 10 schools to promote environmental awareness among young people.
Irish Ambassador to Liberia, Gerard Considine, said coastal communities in Sinoe and Maryland face increasing pressure from coastal erosion, rising sea levels and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources.
“By investing in people, we protect coastlines,” Ambassador Considine said, emphasizing Ireland’s commitment to working with local institutions and communities.
He said the project built on an earlier SCNL pilot in Sinoe County that established more than 20,000 mangrove seedlings in community nurseries. The ambassador said the initiative would also contribute to Liberia’s climate commitments and provide environmental data that could support the country’s emerging carbon market.
The project, he added, aligns with Liberia’s national development priorities and Ireland’s 2024–2028 Embassy Strategy for Liberia. Ambassador Considine officially launched the project, emphasizing that coastal communities should remain at the center of conservation efforts and benefit directly from Liberia’s natural resources.
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