Paynesville – As Liberia joins the world in celebrating World Wetlands Day, the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Nathaniel Blama has called for a concerted effort in protecting all wetlands in the country.
World Wetlands Day (WWD) is held annually on February 2, marking the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971 when a small group of environmentalists signed an international agreement at the Ramsar Convention in Iran.
However, because the date was on Sunday this year, the official celebration in Liberia took place on Monday, February 3, in Paynesville.
This year’s event was organized by the EPA in collaboration with several inter-governmental institutions and environmental organizations including the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) and Conservation International (CI).
It followed an official proclamation by President George Weah, calling on all Liberians and foreign residents to take concrete actions towards the sustainable management of all wetlands and water bodies.
The President also called upon all people residing in Liberia to join the EPA in executing appropriate programs to make the day meaningful.
At the official program marking World Wetlands Day in Paynesville on Monday, Mr. Blama warned that the destruction of wetlands poses ‘serious’ threat to the environment and leads to biodiversity loss.
Wetlands in Liberia, especially in most densely populated urban areas including Monrovia and its environs, are misused as waste disposal and construction of buildings used for residential or commercial purposes.
The mangrove ecosystems, which among other things, provide shelter and nutrients for fish population and other countless marine species, are cut down in for fuel and other purposes.
In the process, this leads to damaging environmental effects, some of which include biodiversity lost, increased flood and drought, nutrient runoff, water pollution, and shoreline erosion.
Mr. Blama warned of harmful practices against the environment and stated that the Montserrado wetlands are under immense pressure from human actions, adding that it requires the collective effort of all to save it.
“The Montserrado wetlands are under pressure. It’s being heavily polluted; the mangroves are being cut down and used for fuel. We want to use this platform to call for a collective effort of all officials and community to join in conserving our wetlands,” he appealed.
Speaking further, he made a startling revelation that studies have shown that parts of Liberia lie below sea level and if this is true, there is need for everyone to form a united front in the conservation of wetlands to ensure a safe future.
“There is an estimate that some portion of Liberia is below sea level. I want to call on everyone to protect the wetlands because when we do, we are doing it for future generations,” he noted.
In his keynote address, former Lands, Mines and Energy Minister, Dr. Eugene Shannon recommended several measures for the conservation of wetlands, including the strengthening of institutions to manage and protect wetlands and the inclusion of local non-governmental organizations in the institutional arrangements for wetlands conservation.
Dr. Shannon also called for the development of national wetlands incentives and management strategies, and for wetlands concerns to be considered in national and local planning and law using decision making processes.
He also wants environmental education programs to be launched to disseminate knowledge on the importance of wetlands.
Meanwhile, at a program, held at the Bethesda A. G. Church in 72nd Community, Paynesville was attended by students and various pro-environmental organizations.
A panel discussion, featuring some of Liberia’s best environmental scientists was held. Prior to the indoor program, the EPA and collaborating institutions including the FDA, CI and MCC conducted awareness in the 72nd communities, educating residents on the danger of destroying the wetlands.
Established to raise awareness about the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet, WWD was celebrated for the first time in 1997 and has grown since then.
Each year, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community take advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits such as conservation.
Some of these benefits include: biologically diverse ecosystems that provide habitat for many species, serve as buffers on the coast against storms and flooding, and naturally filter water by breaking down or transforming harmful pollutants.
This year, WWD is celebrated under the global them Wetlands and Biodiversity, while the national theme is “Protect Wetlands and save Biodiversity.”