MONROVIA – A preliminary investigation conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia suggests that last weekend’s flooding at Kpatawee Waterfall in Bong County was caused by ‘illicit mining’ activities around the waterfall.

Kpatawee Waterfall, one of Liberia’s natural beauties and tourist destinations partly submerged under floodwater over the weekend posting severe public health and environmental threats to visitors and residents of surrounding communities in central Liberia.

The devastating flood washed away accommodations and crops.

The incident is being attributed to climate change, however, environmental inspectors who visited the area in a preliminary report said the flooding was human-induced.

Although some residents disclosed that a similar incident occurred in the area in the 1990s, environmental inspectors gathered that illicit mining activities taking place upstream caused the waterfall to overflow.

Illicit miners are noted for damming and diverting waterbodies.

The EPA Inspectors also observed that channels around a rice field near the waterfall are blocked making it difficult for the water to flow freely when it rains.

 However, EPA Executive Director, Prof. Wilson K. Tarpeh has mandated a multi – intra agency team headed by the Department of Compliance and Enforcement to further probe the cause of last weekend’s flooding at the resort.

KPATAEE, Bong County – The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) has disclosed plans to raze structures erected around the Kpatawee Wetlands in Bong County, without it’s authorization.

Kpatawee is one of Liberia’s five wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, which serves as a major water reservoir uniquely characterize with a water fall.

It also serves as a habitat for diverse animal and plant species, as well as home for endangered three-cusped Pangolin and Water Chevrotain.

A study conducted by environmental scientists and technicians establishes that people are encroaching on the waterfall to an extend that the wetland may soon lost its conservation value and international importance.

Against this backdrop, EPA Executive Director, Prof. Wilson K. Tarpeh said that all structures erected in the wetlands without authorization from the EPA will be demolished.

The EPA is the Government of Liberia focal entity for the management of the environment and natural resources.

Speaking at the 2022 World Wetlands Day Celebration on February 2, 2022 in Kpatawee, Prof. Tarpeh explained that it is important that Liberians conserve and use wetlands wisely, because doing so will signify Liberia’s obligatory fulfillment under the Ramsar Convention.

Prof. Tarpeh disclosed that last year, the EPA undertook an assessment mission to determine current status of Kpatawee predicated upon numerous complaints and reports highlighting the increasing wave of pit sawing and other illegal and unregulated activities.

“Key finding of the report indicated that Kpatawee Waterfall continue to be degraded leading to gradual decline of its ecological integrity, especially its watershed importance that had given rise to this waterfall,” he said.

Prof. Tarpeh indicated that cognizant of EPA’s statutory mandate to protect this ecosystem, the Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Jalk Enterprise to assist in protecting the Kpatawee Waterfall through series of activities such as awareness raising, helping to maintain the forest canopy, promoting ecotourism and many others.

“Today, little calm has returned to this waterfall, but we need to do more.  I look forward to receive Kpatawee Waterfall Management Plan which will take into consideration agreeable activities that Jalk and the inhabitants will undertake in protecting the waterfall, conserving biodiversity, addressing the livelihood of the local inhabitants and above all promoting the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development,” Tarpeh added.

For his part, Levi Z. Piah, Focal Point of the Ramsar Convention at the EPA pleaded for support for the official gazzettment of the Kpatawee Waterfall.

Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Head of Mission at Sweden Embassy, Johan Romare said protecting wetlands, and using them sensibly, are part of critical ways Liberia can achieve sustainable development.

He indicated that wetlands support Liberia and Liberians, in so many different ways, including keeping our landscape in better shape, supporting agriculture development, tourism, fisheries, our forests; and very crucial is that these wetlands serve as important hotspots for biodiversity, and serve as carbon sink.

“This means that properly maintaining our wetlands is crucial in maintain our biodiversity and addressing the climate change challenge that we are currently experiencing,” Romare said. 

He further explained that plastics pollution greatly affects wetlands and the environment in general and said “It remains a fact, that most of the plastics that we use, end up in the ocean, our beaches, and other land areas.”

“As we throw bottles, plastic bags, and empty water sachets away, they eventually end up in the ocean, wetlands and eventually in our food chain, creating an environmental and health challenge,” the Sweden envoy said.

“Let’s therefore use this year’s celebration of World Wetlands Day to reflect on concrete measures that can be taken to address this issue of plastics pollution,” Romare said.

 He reminded the gathering that in March 2019 Sweden and the Liberian Government, working with Conservation International (CI) organized and hosted the first ever ‘Blue Ocean Conference’ in the West Africa region.

 “Several commitments were made at the conclusion of that conference. One of them was:

‘We commit to a ban on single-use plastics by 2022 and commits to recovering and responsibly managing all plastic packaging by 2030 by partnering with stakeholders at relevant governance levels to address plastics production, marketing, and use,” Romare indicated

As the EPA was the lead Government agency responsible for these commitments, perhaps it is about time that we think about moving some of these commitments forward, particularly on marine plastics pollution. Sweden is ready to support both the Government and private sector actors in this regard. This can be achieved by working in broad and more collaborative ways that incorporate key actors from all sectors.

In the coming years, Sweden will be increasing engagement in the areas of environment and climate change, natural resources and biodiversity, including mangrove, forests, and livelihood of coastal and forest communities.

Kpatawee Clan, Bong County – The charms of the Kpatawee waterfalls in Suakoko district have been generating an income of $13,000 Liberian dollars monthly for its villagers since the new management was elected by officials of the district, a FrontPage Africa tour of the clan has established.

With an eco-tourism project that focuses around the waterfall, the education of children in the village have been financially taken care of with the income generated from such projects.

Project manager Jerry Gorlormator said since they benefited a lot from the income-generating source. Mr. Gorlormator said the idea was an initiative of their elders, many who had passed on. “We received a grant from a non-governmental organization so that we could develop the area surrounding the waterfall,” he said.

“The project is mainly undertaken by 20 youths in the village who spearhead the project seeing that the area surrounding the waterfall is clean and up to standard at all times.

“Through utilizing the grant given by the NGO, we have been able to uplift our livelihood as money made from the project is used to address other village needs.”

Mr. Gorlormator said there had been so many tourists coming to the waterfall over the years, especially those from that visited the area. Continuing, he added: “We dream of developing the area and we aim to create recreational events center on the waterfall,” he said.

“We also have future plans to build rest houses and change rooms close to the waterfall. At the moment, we charge $100 Liberian dollars for adults and $50 Liberian dollars for children that wish to visit the waterfall.”

The Kpatawee waterfall, most commonly known among locals as the heart of Bong County, is a natural wonder not to be missed. The fall can be reached from a village in a tolerable time of 45 minutes.

The village is positioned amongst high rises and deep valleys. Many locals who do farming reside in the village, many of which generate income from growing rice and bananas. You will pass forests of banana plants, waiting for the sun to aid with their ripening.

An abundance of bananas plants will appear ripened with red berries waiting to be picked, dried, milled and exported. Amidst the hike you

Due to this fact you would acquire many followers along the route, young children fascinate our sweaty faces and peculiar accents, trying to lead us further up the peak.

The change in terrain and altitude for that matter isn’t for the faint hearted, or the ‘not-so-fit’ in my case. You have to bear a good sense of balance to cross the slimmest of paths segregating running streams from plummeting valleys.

Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com