-Says FDA Technical Manager Goll
By Edwin M. Fayia, III
Mr. Blamah Sando Goll, Technical Manager, Forestry Development Authority (FDA) has intimated that effective collaboration with international partners has considerably minimized illegal poachers, hunters, gold miners and bush meat trade in the Sapo National Park in Sinoe County, south eastern Liberia.
Mr. Goll made the disclosure in an interview with the Reporter earlier this week after a tour of several parts of the Sapo National Park with a team of two lead conservation groups namely Fiona and Flora International in Liberia.
The FDA official also disclosed that one of the local conservation Non governmental organizations in the one week tour was Partners in Development.
He also added that the local is trying to set up conservation clubs at schools situated at the SNP intended to teach science courses in conservation aimed at sustainable protection of the park in Sinoe County.
Besides, Mr. Goll pointed out that the group is working to set up local governance structures also geared towards protecting the park for the unborn future generation of the Liberians in the years to come.
Shedding light that poachers, miners and commercial bush meat traders have resurfaced on the premises of the SNP, Mr. Goll noted that the park is still in the hands of the FDA rangers and all illegal activities that were taking place at the park have been minimized.
He added that he and the international team of the conservation groups hosted several meetings with the local chiefs, residents and other stakeholders intended to get fresh hand information of the SNP and its environs.
The FDA Technical Manager however disclosed that outside of the SNP, rangers have been seen commercial hunters and bush meat traders carrying some hunting activities.
Mr. Goll further explained that the FDA rangers have carried out raids and some arrests have been made and investigations of the culprits are ongoing through the legal channels in Sino County.
Asked on how visible are FDA rangers at the SNP, Mr. Goll said, for the strategic of the park, the FDA has stratified the park and as former chief of the park, three management zones have been established aimed at the effectively monitoring the activities of the park.
Mr. Goll also disclosed that six rangers outposts have been established intended for the day to day patrol, awareness and other routine checks around the SNP. This is intended to protect the park from all illegal activities in Sinoe County.
The FDA Conservation head intimated at the moment one hundred and seventy persons have been deployed as official rangers and other support staff for the project intervention.
“I must admit that our rangers are not like the regional forest rangers in terms of carrying fire arms that will help to fight illegal poachers, miners and other forms of bush meat trade in our SNP in Sinoe County,” Mr. Goll asserted.
However, Mr. Goll noted that the Managing Director of the FDA Mr. C. Mike Doryen and team have been holding discussions with the Liberia National Police (LNP) in a bid to buttress the efforts of the forest agency to protect all official parks in the country.
He also underscored the need for additional training and disclosed plans that the central government has assured them the LNP and the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) as well as other security agencies are been contacted through official channels for the training of the FDA rangers in Liberia.
In order to protect parks and selected protected areas, residents residing at the fringes of those areas must be prioritized and given the kind of sustainable livelihood activities that will minimize their encroachments and other illegal business movement in the forests.
Mr. Goll also disclosed that the Liberia Forest Sector Project, the REDD+ arm of the FDA has hired a consultant firm to conduct an assessment needs of the forest dwellers and determine their actual needs, as opposed to giving handouts that will not be useful to them.
The FDA Technical Manager also disclosed that Partners in Development headed by Mr. Nobel Jackson are project with the forest dwellers in vegetable production as means of alternative livelihood activities, instead of always depending forest resources for the livelihoods at the various parks.
Besides, the group has provided some training for the forest dwellers and when they happen to leave, the residents will be able to sustain and maintain the production of whatever livelihood activities they were taught in Sinoe County.
Commenting on the status of the wildlife in SNP, Mr. Goll said the FDA is involved with monitoring activities, awareness and livelihood programs around the park and with Ivorian authorities, regarding Tyee National Park, transboundary agreements have been initiated and discussions are ongoing between the two regional governments.
Recently, Mr. Goll indicated that a delegation went to Sierra Leone and held fruitful discussions with the authorities there regarding the Gola National Park bordering Liberia and the FDA is reviewing the agreement in order to strengthen the collaboration.
He also disclosed that negotiations are ongoing among the Guinean and Ivorian Governments regarding the protection of the Wonegizi and East Nimba Reserve and modalities are expected to be worked out some agreements with those countries for the protection of those wildlife forest areas.
He also noted that other collaborative initiatives are ongoing with the Mano River Union, African Unity all geared towards the enhancement and protection of those wildlife and endanger species in some parts of the African continent.