Paynesville – ArcelorMittal Liberia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and the Co-Management Committee of the East Nimba Nature Reserve (ENNR) to strengthen conservation and management efforts at one of Liberia’s most ecologically significant protected areas.
The agreement forms part of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BCP), created to operationalize the company’s environmental and biodiversity commitments under its Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with the Government of Liberia.
Through the partnership, ArcelorMittal Liberia will provide targeted financial and technical support aimed at strengthening protected area management, enhancing law enforcement, improving biodiversity monitoring, and deepening community engagement within the ENNR.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony held at the FDA headquarters in Paynesville, ArcelorMittal Liberia Chief Executive Officer Michiel Van Der Merwe commended the FDA and the ENNR Co-Management Committee for their dedication to environmental protection and reaffirmed the company’s support.
“We appreciate the great work that the FDA is doing and reaffirm our support,” Van Der Merwe said. “These initiatives align with our core values and what we want to see and do in the country. As we expand our operations, we want to ensure that we do not leave the place as we found it, but leave it much better. That is our strategy.”
For his part, FDA Managing Director Rudolph J. Merab Sr. welcomed the partnership, describing it as a timely and strategic collaboration that will significantly enhance conservation efforts at the East Nimba Nature Reserve.
He noted that the MoU reflects a shared responsibility between government and the private sector to safeguard Liberia’s biodiversity while promoting sustainable development for present and future generations.
The ENNR is a nationally designated protected area and a critical component of the wider Mount Nimba biodiversity landscape. The partnership underscores a joint commitment to preserving Liberia’s natural heritage while ensuring responsible resource development and long-term environmental stewardship.
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