MONROVIA – In a significant step toward advancing environmental conservation in Liberia, Sinoe County Superintendent Hon. Peter Wleh Nyensuah and renowned conservationist Dr. Annika Hillers held a high-level meeting with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on May 21, 2025. The meeting focused on the urgent threats facing Sarpo National Park in Sinoe County, Liberia’s second-largest protected forest reserve.
According to a statement from the Superintendent’s office, the discussion centered on growing concerns over illegal mining activities and unauthorized human encroachment within the park. These activities pose serious risks to the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the protected area, which is home to several endangered species, including the pygmy hippopotamus.
Superintendent Nyensuah emphasized the national importance of Sarpo National Park, calling for decisive legal and policy actions to ensure its long-term protection. “Sarpo is not just a local treasure; it is a critical part of Liberia’s environmental legacy,” he stated.
President Boakai, visibly concerned by the report, expressed his administration’s unwavering commitment to conserving Liberia’s rich natural heritage. In an immediate and decisive move during the meeting, the President summoned members of the joint security headed by the ministry and the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), and other security apparatus — to prepare for deployment to Sarpo National Park in Sinoe County. Their mission: to safeguard the area and bring illegal activities to a halt.
“This is not just about conservation; it is about upholding the rule of law and protecting the future of Liberia’s natural resources,” President Boakai remarked. He emphasized the need for a coordinated and sustained national response, pledging full support for both local and international collaboration in defending the park.
Dr. Hillers, a longtime advocate for biodiversity in West Africa, underlined the importance of deeper community engagement and stronger enforcement of environmental laws. She stressed that Sarpo National Park represents not only ecological significance for Liberia but also global conservation priorities.
The high-level meeting follows the first official release from the Office of the Superintendent issued on April 21, 2025, when Superintendent Nyensuah launched his county tour in Electoral District #3. During engagements in Payne’s Town and surrounding communities, he delivered a clear message on the urgency of protecting Sarpo National Park.
“Our animals are being driven away and killed; the environment is under threat, and this cannot continue,” Superintendent Nyensuah told residents, as he condemned illegal mining and settlements within the park. He announced that the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of National Defense, had resolved to deploy personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) to remove violators and reclaim the protected area.
“I am warning all citizens who are currently living or operating in the Sapo National Park to leave peacefully and immediately,” he declared. “The law will be enforced, and we are determined to protect our national heritage.”
The county tour is part of the Superintendent’s commitment to directly engage with citizens, listen to their concerns, and ensure that government policies are effectively communicated and implemented across Sinoe.
“This was a productive and timely conversation,” Superintendent Nyensuah stated following the meeting with the President. “We are encouraged by the President’s swift action and look forward to seeing tangible outcomes in the form of reinforced legal frameworks, security deployment, and effective on-the-ground protection.”
The Office of the Superintendent reaffirmed its commitment to working with national institutions, communities, and the international conservation community to safeguard Liberia’s natural endowment.
Sarpo National Park, located in southeastern Liberia within Sinoe County, is one of the last strongholds of the critically endangered pygmy hippopotamus and a host of other rare wildlife species. Conservationists have long warned that without urgent intervention, the park’s ecological future could be in jeopardy. The President’s directive for immediate security mobilization marks a critical turning point in Liberia’s environmental protection efforts.
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