Abstract
Liberia is highly vulnerable to climate change-induced disasters, especially coastal erosion and flooding. Wetland and mangrove ecosystems play a pivotal role in addressing coastal flooding and providing ecological, social and economic services to mankind. The government has strived to protect wetland and mangroves through legal framework law (the Wetland Act), policies and international treaties, but these elements are not efficient for field or practical work regarding the extent to which wetland and mangroves are undergoing depletion.
The pressure on wetland and mangrove ecosystems has a historic trend; it is estimated that the rate of mangrove deforestation could be as high as 65% since 1980 (FAO 2007), and research on spatiotemporal mangrove distribution in Mesurado wetland established a total mangrove forest loss of 32.88% with a declining rate of 0.96% from 1986–2022. This research aims to demand that the government transition from policies to robust action and build a system of accountability and transparency for national and international policies.
Through observational and field assessment in the Mesurdo wetland, it is clear that anthropogenic activities categorized by urbanization and land ownership, waste, deforestation and sand quarries are responsible for wetland and mangrove ecosystem depletion. The absence of law enforcement and actions, community-led restoration initiative and dialogue will lead to perpetual degradation of the Mesurado wetland and mangrove ecosystem.
Introduction
Liberia is a country on the west coast of Africa. The total land area of Liberia is about 111,369 square kilometers, with a coastline of 580 km. Due to pass experience of 14 years of civil unrest, the country has suffered poverty, economic growth and development, poor infrastructure, quality health services, yet with abundance of natural resources. The Liberian population has increased from 3,476,608 in 2008 to 5,250,187 in 2022 (LIGIS, 2022 report). Thou the country has made strides in addressing pressing economic, social, and developmental issues, yet still plug by climate change.
Liberia is severely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change by evidence of nine of the fifteen counties are coastal counties. Experiencing sea-level rise, coastal erosion and flooding. Affecting the country from a wide scope on food security, disease prevalence, migration, heritage lose and gender. Yet the country has a unique opportunity to maximize in addressing climate change through its unique forest (43 % Upper Guinea forest) and diverse biodiversity and wetlands and mangrove ecosystem (Climate Risk Profile: Liberia (2024): The World Bank Group).
Mangrove conservation and restoration is a nature-based solution that Liberia can employ in their fight against climate change as well as a means for making a significant contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mangroves act as natural buffers, shielding coastal communities from storm surges, erosion, and flooding. Their intricate root systems stabilize shorelines, preventing land loss, safeguarding infrastructure and providing an eco-friendly environment. The mangrove ecosystems serve as essential breeding grounds for fish and other marine species to balance resource depletion, provide local livelihoods and food security, and enhance health and well-being for local communities.
Mangrove forests stabilize the coastline by reducing erosion caused by storm surges, currents, waves, and tides, limiting erosion and shielding coastal communities from the destructive forces of tropical storms. These plants prevent corrosion and improve sedimentation by reducing wave energy and water over the soil surface, reducing the water’s capacity to dislodge sediments and carry them out of the mangrove area. The dense mangrove forest canopies reduce wind speeds locally. Mangroves can rapidly reduce wave energy as they pass through the trees. The effectiveness of this barrier in reducing the height of relatively small waves is anywhere between 13% and 66% over a 100-meter-wide mangrove belt (RAEES AHMED, Sept. 26, 2022).
Mangroves are facing significant degradation in Liberia; it is estimated that the rate of mangrove deforestation could be as high as 65% since 1980 (FAO 2007). The greatest underlining threats are land degradation due to urbanization and landownership, waste, deforestation, transportation, and sand mining exploitation. Moreover, the increasing production of charcoal due to its demand, the smoking of fish for its traditional smell and taste for economic activities, and low agriculture practices have contributed to the high depletion of mangrove ecosystems.
The highest recorded flood incident was on September 4, 2023, in Monrovia flood-prone and low-lying areas, affecting an overall population of 12,450 people. In Monrovia, Montserrado County, 32 communities have been experiencing flooding (Liberia Floods, IFRC, Sept. 15, 2023). It is vividly proving that the West Point community is on the verge of submersion. The people-united community behind JFK, ELWA, S.D. Cooper, King-Gray, and Wisdom communities in Montserrado County are prone to coastal disasters.
The entire Mesurado wetlands communities are experiencing floods with a high volume of water covering the entire neighborhood and entering bedrooms, leading to many homeless, no playground for children and exacerbated cold, vector-borne diseases, diarrhea and cholera due to unsafe drinking water. From the Japan Freeway to central Monrovia is flooded. Toxic gases like carbon dioxide, methane, etc. and pollution from homes and industries continue to pose an immense threat to human health in Liberia and the mangrove ecosystems play a fundamental role in providing a clean, healthy and safe air and environment.
Ecological and social benefits of wetland and mangrove ecosystems
The importance of mangrove and wetlands ecosystems cannot be overemphasized. Wetlands and mangroves are vital ecosystems that provide a wide range of benefits to both the environment and society. From serving as habitats for diverse plant and animal species to offering protection against natural disasters such as floods and storms, these ecosystems play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting human well-being.
Importantly and interestingly, wetlands, including marshes, swamps, and peatlands, are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. According to scientific data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 1.8 billion metric tons of carbon stored (17% of the total current carbon stored in mangroves) are currently valued at a minimum of $13 billion at market prices in voluntary carbon markets, representing a cost to society equal to $336 billion based on the social cost of carbon. 2.1 million lives exposed to coastal flooding (14.5% of current lives exposed) and $36 billion worth of protection to properties (35.7% of current property values protected), 17 million days of fishing effort per year, and 14% of current fishing effort is supported by mangroves (IUNC, report).
Both wetlands and mangroves play a key role in supporting biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and providing essential ecosystem services to communities. Some economic and social aspects of mangroves and wetlands may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Fisheries: Mangroves and wetlands serve as important nurseries and habitats for fish and other marine species, supporting commercial and subsistence fisheries. Healthy mangrove ecosystems contribute to sustainable fishery yields and provide livelihoods for coastal communities.
- Tourism: Wetlands and mangroves attract tourists interested in bird watching, nature tours, and recreational activities. Ecotourism opportunities generated by these ecosystems can stimulate local economies and create jobs.
- Carbon Sequestration: Mangroves and wetlands are highly effective at sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping mitigate climate change. This ecosystem service has economic value through carbon trading mechanisms and initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Biodiversity Conservation: Mangroves and wetlands support a diverse array of plant and animal species, many of which are unique and endangered. Protecting these ecosystems helps preserve biodiversity and maintain ecological balance.
- Coastal Protection: Mangroves act as natural barriers against coastal erosion, storm surges, and tsunamis. By reducing the impact of natural disasters, these ecosystems enhance the resilience of coastal communities and infrastructure.
- Water Quality Improvement: Wetlands play a crucial role in filtering pollutants, nutrients, and sediments from water bodies, improving water quality downstream. This ecosystem service is essential for maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems and supporting human health.
The Threat: Widespread Loss and Degradation of Wetland and Mangrove Ecosystems
Wetlands and mangroves are facing increasing threats in Liberia. The biggest threat to Liberia’s mangroves is urban expansion (USAID ETOA, 2008 report). Like other parts of the world, the greatest threat to mangrove ecosystems in the Mesurado Wetland is land degradation due to urbanization, infrastructure development, and other intense anthropogenic activities (FAO, 2007). Some other activities include dumping of waste, cutting of mangrove for fish drying purposes, open defecation in wetlands, and climate change-induced sea erosion and flooding. These activities directly destroy the wetland ecosystem and have wider effects on the general population.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) May 22, 2024 assessment report, nearly 20% (19.6%) of the assessed mangroves are at high risk, classed as either endangered or critically endangered, reflecting that these areas are at severe risk of collapse.
However, mangrove ecosystems are exceptional in their ability to provide essential services to people, including coastal disaster risk reduction, carbon storage and sequestration, and support for fisheries. Their loss stands to be disastrous for nature and people across Liberia. Factors leading to the wide degradation of mangroves in Liberia are:
Urbanization and Landownership
Urbanization is one of the most unfavorable factors for the conservation and evolution of terrestrial ecosystems in emerging and developing countries (Din et al. 2017). The population of Liberia is projected to triple to 6.7 million, with 68% living in urban areas by 2050, according to the UN Habitat (2021) report. According to the International Organization on Migration, there will be more climate- migrants in 2025, ranging from 44 to 216 million, mentioning sub-Saharan African countries. This means that the rapid increase in human population will lead to a high decrease in mangrove and wetlands ecosystems. The existing increase-population in the Mesurado wetland, particularly Fanti Town, Jacob Town, Stephen Tolber Borbor Island, Chocolate City, Topoe Village and Pagos Island, poses high risk and pressure on the wetland and mangrove and indicate a little enforcement effort in addressing wetland and mangrove protection.
Waste
In Liberia, the wetland has become a sanitary landfill station for communities. The discharge of waste into the wetland and mangrove areas is daily transformed into solid and liquid waste, and the low decomposition will cause mangrove depletion associated with the intoxication of the food chain, which possibly adversely leads to disease outbreaks due to intoxication and biological agents (Din et al. 2017).
Deforestation
The deforestation of the mangrove ecosystem in Liberia is on the rise. The degradation is backed by the traditional myth of fish mongers and consumers tasting mangrove older on dry fish. Considering that most wetland and mangrove communities’ residents are fish mongers, this exacerbates the depletion of mangrove plants for economic reasons. On the other hand, most wetland communities like Fanti Town, Jacob Town, Stephen Tolbert Borbor Island, Chocolate City, NKK, Battery Factory, Topoe Village, etc, through observation and field assessment, used the mangrove as a floor basement to dry the swamp before adding mud for construction. Deforestation of mangroves poses a threat to rare and endemic species that are mangrove-dependent for survival and contribute to flooding, a decrease in soil content, and a high release of carbon into the atmosphere.
Sand Quarries
The exploitation of sand is an important factor that can cause disturbances in the structure and nature of the mangrove vegetation. It can also degrade water quality, soil and the environment (Din et al. 2017). The sand quarry is visible in the Battery Factory Community as the Ever-Bright Sand Mining Company continues to destroy the wetland and mangrove to the detriment of its residents, leaving the community on the verge of future disasters. Due to road accessibility to trade products, the company has filled the wetland with mud and sand, which destroyed the wetland and causing floods and water-borne diseases.
These factors are keen to be considered. A study shows that an estimated 80% of global fish catch relies on mangrove forests either directly or indirectly (wildlife and welfare), and according to research findings from Dr. Emmanuel T. Olatunji on spatiotemporal mangrove distribution in Mesurado wetland, there was a total mangrove forest loss of 32.88% with a decline rate of 0.96% from 1986–2022. The observed in-actions of government toward addressing these factors will exacerbate already and projected disasters such as coastal erosion, loss of fish and other marine species, and increased vulnerability to climate change impacts.
The Policy Gap: From Words to Action in Liberia
The government of Liberia established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2003 under the EPA Act through legislation. However, the agency became a fully functioning entity in 2006 with lead authority over all environmental activities and programs relating to environmental management in Liberia, with a focus on the formulation of environmental policy and natural resources management laws, regulation of the environmental sector, and reporting on the status of the environment.
Additionally, the government has developed national policies (the Wetland Act of Liberia, etc.) and is a signatory to international treaties ensuring wetlands and biodiversity protection. The Liberia National Integrated Water Resources Management Policy stressed the creation of awareness about the protection of wetlands as an integral part of water resources, the National Forestry Policy and Implementation Strategy provides concepts on the significance of mangroves and wetlands for the subsistence and economic benefits to the local population, and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2017–2025) highlight the need for unique ecosystem preservation, prevention of poaching and hunting of wild animals, and careful development of protected and reserve areas.
Target 4.1 of the strategy clearly mentions, ‘’By 2022, ecosystems that provide essential services and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being will be safeguarded, and restoration programs have been initiated for degraded ecosystems to cover at least 15 percent of the priority’’. Liberia being signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Paris Agreement), the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), and a party to the ‘’Ramsar Convection” since November 2, 2003 has made strive to have five (5) protected sites, namely: Mesurado wetland (code 1631), Marshall wetland (code 1630), Kpatawee wetland (code 1629), Gbedin wetland (code 1628), and Lake Piso (code 1306) with rapid depletion especially in the mesurado wetland.
Additionally, the wetlands regulations of Liberia, Part II: Management of Wetland Resources, clearly outline the government’s responsibility to ensure wetlands and mangrove protection.
The government or a local government shall hold in trust for the people and protect wetlands for the common good of the citizens of Liberia.
The government or a local government shall not lease out or otherwise alienate any wetland.
Major gaps
Liberia faces significant challenges in addressing environmental issues, especially the protection of wetland and mangrove ecosystems, and there are several gaps and ineffective policies hindering progress. The country lacks a national institutional authority, which means a central authority for all environmental management in Liberia.
There is still a gap in institutional functions between the Environmental Protection Agency, which is the steward of the environment, Monrovia City Corporation, Paynesville City Corporation, National Aquaculture of Liberia, Maritime and other institutions having environmental desks.
There should be a clear national policy framework to address power struggles and overlap. Moreover, addressing the gaps between the local government “commissioners,” the land authority, and the EPA for wetland security is critical. Land degradation and mangrove deforestation are a result of landownership to wetland land through commissioner offices that are contrary to the Wetland Act of Liberia enacted for the protection of all wetland under the stewardship of the EPA. Poor governance and rule of law are a major gap, allowing impunity to exacerbate environmental problems due to the lack of an environmental court.
Call to Action: Implementing Effective Measures in Liberia
The government of Liberia must ensure the sustainable management of wetland and mangrove ecosystems for future generations. Effective action-driven regulations will aid in the prevention of habitat loss, water pollution, and over-exploitation of resources, while enforcement measures deter illegal activities that harm wetlands and mangroves.
The government must ensure compliance and enforcement to the Wetland Acts of Liberia by developing a community-based task force for wetland and mangrove, allotting budgetary support for wetland and mangrove management and monitoring, increasing active awareness, community capacity building, and livelihood programs through local community-led and national institutions. The establishment of the environmental court of Liberia is essential to enhancing effective redress to environmental problems, particularly to wetland and mangrove ecosystems and environmental pollution from industrial companies. Hence, the Environmental Protection Agency needs to build strong and active ties with local communities that are custodians of wetland habitats to conserve and protect them. There are three strong pillars for the government to build system on to conserve and protect wetland and mangrove ecosystems.
- Strengthening existing legal frameworks for wetland and mangrove protection in Liberia
- Investing in restoration projects focused on Liberia’s specific needs
- Supporting local and national NGOs and community initiatives on wetland and mangrove protection.
Accountability Mechanisms for Liberia
Accountability is cardinal in addressing government responsibility and holding the government liable for inactions on national policies and international treaties. With specificity to wetland and mangrove ecosystems, the government must ensure conservation and protection efforts for wetland and mangrove ecosystems through a trust-based and community-driven approach. Building a system that incorporates all stakeholders, particularly local communities, civil society institutions and NGOs, is essential for achieving national and international goals. Understandably, policies and treaties are only effective if they are properly implemented.
The government must ensure the allocation of resources and enforce regulations for the protection of wetland and mangrove ecosystems. The elements needed for accountability and transparency are: a legal framework with clear regulations and penalties to enhance accountability; public awareness campaigns on the importance of mangroves and their ecosystems; community engagement in decision-making processes; independent monitoring to regularly track progress; and regular reporting to enhance efforts, including achievements, challenges, and financial allocations.
Recommendations
Establish a community-based task force that works along with EPA inspectors.
Develop a national management plan for the wetland and mangrove ecosystems.
National dialogue on wetland and mangrove ecosystem protection
Develop an exclusive budget line for the wetland ecosystem to enhance eco-friendly tourism.
Fund and empower local and national NGOs to raise awareness about wetland and mangrove
Conclusion
In spite of the written laws and policies to protect wetland and mangrove ecosystems, the deforestation and degradation rate are still high in the Mesurado wetland, which is a ramsar site. The depletion caused by natural disasters must be considered negligible in comparison to anthropogenic activities in the wetland. Despite the fact that government compliance and enforcement efforts are weakening, the severity of harm they pose to wetland and aquatic species still remains. It is evident that wetland and mangrove provide immense ecological, social and economic services to mankind. Statistics proved that 17% of the 1.8 billion tons of carbon are stored in mangrove ecosystems, 14% of the current fishing effort is supported by mangroves (IUNC report), and mangroves serve as a natural barrel for coastal communities. With evidence that nine of fifteen counties are coastal counties, Liberia’s vulnerability to climate change-prone disasters is high due to its position and lack of infrastructure. Hence, destroying wetland and mangrove ecosystems will triple their risk of climate change-prone disasters.
Resource document and search engine
Liberia NBSAP (2017-2025)
Wetland Regulations of Liberia
Change detection analysis of mangrove ecosystems in the Mesurado Wetland, Montserrado County, Liberia September 2020
Impact of Ubanization on the Evolution of Mangrove Ecosystem in Wouri River Estuary (DoualaCameroon)
Change Detection Analysis of Mangrove Ecosystems in the Mesurado Wetland, Montserrado County, Liberia
Liberia National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
National Forestry Policy and Implementation Strategy
National Integrated Water Resources Management of Liberia
Ramsar Official Website
National Adaptation Plan
Peace M. Karnkeh an environmental and climate change professional. He serves as an administrator of the Liberian Youth for Climate Actions, and follow Loss and Damage thematic to the UNFCCC.
