As Liberia joined the global community in observing World Environment Day, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) used the occasion to promote environmental awareness, climate resilience, and sustainable development through community engagement, educational discussions, and tree-planting activities in Bong County.
By: Nukanah Kollie
The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia has renewed its call for greater community participation in climate action, environmental protection, and sustainable development as it concluded activities marking World Environment Day in Bong County.
Observed annually on June 5, World Environment Day is the United Nations’ principal platform for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment. The day serves as a global reminder of the urgent need to address environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and deforestation.
EPA Stresses Collective Responsibility
Providing an overview of the event, EPA Bong County Environmental Officer Victor Gbelee underscored the importance of collective efforts in addressing environmental threats and promoting sustainable development.
According to him, the celebration was intended to extend national World Environment Day activities to local communities while increasing awareness among students and residents about the connection between climate action, clean air, and public health.
“The program was organized to create awareness among students and community members about environmental protection and the role everyone can play in combating climate change,” Gbelee explained.
He noted that panel discussions involving environmental stakeholders, educators, and county officials provided participants with valuable information on climate change, environmental conservation, and responsible citizenship.
As part of the day’s activities, students participated in a tree-planting exercise aimed at beautifying the school environment while encouraging environmental stewardship among young people.
“Each student will plant a tree on the school campus as a practical contribution to climate action,” Gbelee said.
He disclosed that plans are underway to establish an environmental club at the school to oversee the maintenance and protection of the trees. The EPA and its partners, he added, will continue supporting the initiative by replacing trees that fail to survive.
“The objective is not only to plant trees but to nurture a culture of environmental responsibility among students and the wider community,” he emphasized.
County Administration Reaffirms Commitment
Addressing the gathering on behalf of Bong County Superintendent Hawa Loleyah Norris, Human Resource Officer Marline Jarwood reaffirmed the county administration’s commitment to environmental conservation and climate resilience.
Jarwood described nature as humanity’s greatest ally in combating climate change and praised the EPA and its partners for promoting environmental awareness throughout Liberia.
“The Bong County Administration remains committed to supporting efforts that protect our environment and improve the well-being of our people,” she stated.
However, she warned that Bong County continues to face significant environmental challenges, including unpredictable rainfall patterns, soil degradation, deforestation, and recurrent flooding.
According to her, these environmental pressures threaten food security, livelihoods, and sustainable development, making coordinated climate action more important than ever.
Traditional Leaders Call for Environmental Responsibility
Traditional leaders attending the event stressed the importance of community ownership of environmental protection efforts.
Former Paramount Chief of Jorquelleh Chiefdom, Mary Larteh, said the celebration was particularly important because environmental issues directly affect people’s health, livelihoods, and food production.
“Climate change affects food production. If we do not protect our forests and environment, agriculture will suffer and communities will face greater hardship,” Larteh said.
She expressed concern about indiscriminate waste disposal practices in communities and urged citizens, especially young people, to adopt responsible waste management habits.
“When people drink water and throw plastic containers into the streets instead of using trash cans, it creates problems for everyone. We need to change that mindset,” she noted.
Larteh pledged that traditional women and community leaders throughout Bong County would continue raising awareness about environmental cleanliness in homes, marketplaces, and communities.
“We will continue talking to our children and community members so that we can maintain a clean environment and enjoy better health,” she added.
Chief Elder Praises Environmental Education
Speaking during an interview at the event, Joseph M. Urey, Chief Elder of Bong County, described the World Environment Day celebration as an important educational initiative.
“It was a very good program because it educated us on how to take care of our environment, which is everybody’s business. I think it was well planned and properly executed,” Urey said.
He encouraged continued public awareness and community involvement in environmental protection efforts across the county.
Students Become Ambassadors for Environmental Protection
The celebration also provided students with an opportunity to share what they had learned about environmental protection and climate change.
Kennedy Anmos Jr., an eleventh-grade student at Bong Model School, highlighted the dangers of plastic pollution and microplastics.
He explained that discarded plastics often find their way into rivers and oceans, where they are consumed by fish and eventually enter the human food chain.
“One of the things I learned is that plastic pollution can affect human health. Fish can consume microplastics, and when people eat those fish, the contaminants can eventually affect their bodies,” Kennedy explained.
He encouraged proper collection and recycling of plastic waste, noting that some organizations are now transforming plastic waste into useful products.
Similarly, student Cecelia Biatty said the presentations helped her understand the long-term consequences of pollution and environmental degradation.
“Our generation today may not immediately suffer all the consequences of pollution, but future generations certainly will if we continue damaging the environment,” she said.
Biatty also linked poor environmental sanitation to the spread of diseases such as malaria.
“When we do not clean our environment, mosquitoes breed in dirty areas and stagnant water, leading to more malaria cases,” she observed.
She pledged to share the knowledge gained from the program with members of her community.
“I will tell people that pollution is harmful to our environment and that we must stop practices that destroy forests and contribute to climate change,” she said.
As Liberia joins the rest of the world in confronting the growing impacts of climate change, the Bong County observance of World Environment Day highlighted the importance of collective action, environmental education, and community engagement.
From government officials and traditional leaders to students and environmental advocates, participants shared a common message: protecting the environment is a shared responsibility that requires action from everyone.
With tree-planting initiatives, environmental awareness campaigns, and growing youth engagement, stakeholders hope the lessons learned during the celebration will translate into lasting environmental stewardship across Bong County and beyond.
