On Monday, May 5, 2025, the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), alongside its partners and local government officials, officially inaugurated the Wonegizi Outpost office in Konia, Lofa County. This initiative was made possible through funding provided by the European Union (EU) to Fauna & Flora International, under the Support Program for the Preservation of Forest Ecosystems in West Africa (PAPFor). The ceremony was attended by dignitaries from the county, led by the Lofa County Development Superintendent, J. Laveleh Massaquoi, and members of the FDA delegation, led by Director Nora G. Bowier, Deputy Managing Director for Community, Conservation, and Carbon.
The Community Land Development Management Committees (CLDMCs), Community Auxiliaries, Community people, and the Konia community all jubilantly participated in the ceremony with traditional performances climaxed by key relevant remarks with keynote speech from the EU representative, cutting of tape to open the premises, tour of the premises, followed by entertainments.
The facilities inaugurated include one office building, one Chief Park Warden’s accommodation, and three Rangers’ accommodations, fitted with fully functional solar power system, water system, and furniture for the main office building.
During the handover, Sheku Davowa, Landscape Manager for Fauna & Flora, and Samuel K. Freeman, Chief Park Warden of Wonegizi Proposed Protected Area (PPA), provided insights into the conservation achievements and prevailing challenges. They emphasized the ecological significance of the Wonegizi landscape, which boasts a rich biodiversity of unique flora and fauna. The speakers highlighted the critical role of the forest in sustaining local ecosystems and stressed the necessity of safeguarding its resources.
Davowa stated that the Fauna & Flora EU PAPFor project, titled, ‘One Landscape: One Vision – Enabling all stakeholders to achieve sustainability for people, forest and wildlife in the WWZ landscape’ supported the northwest proposed protected areas, in Liberia – Wonegizi, covering approximately 27,600 hectares and Wologizi encompassing 99,600 hectares, and the neighbouring Ziama forest in Guinea. He acknowledged the threats to conservation, including unsustainable agricultural practices, poaching, and unregulated mining. He called for improved sustainable farming methods to ensure the long-term preservation of the forest and its wildlife.
The EU-funded project, initiated in April 2022, received financial support amounting to €2.6 million. The initiative focused on key areas such as corridor management, sustainable forest conservation, transboundary collaboration, and livelihood support to forest-dependent communities. Mr. Davowa elaborated on the key achievements of the project, which included livelihood support to six communities: 266 farmers comprising 160 men and 106 women received 239,285 cocoa seedlings, planted on a minimum area of 478.6 acres, 181 (156 females & 25 males) smallholder household farmers benefited from Consecration Agriculture Nutrition Garden (CANG) demonstration plots, twelve (12) lead farmers (6 female / 6 male) were trained to support farmers and 59 Community Auxiliaries (39 Wonegizi, 20 Wologizi) trained in biomonitoring patrols with FDA rangers. A total of 240 cameras deployed across Wonegizi and Wologizi recorded forest elephants, western chimpanzee, duikers, giant pangolin etc. 30 elephant scaring devices were deployed to address human-elephant conflicts and scare away elephants from farmers crops.
The project also facilitated bilateral cooperation in the conservation of the landscape, with FDA and their Guinean counterparts conducting joint forest patrols to raise awareness about conservation of the Wologizi-Wonegizi-Ziama landscape. As part of the bilateral agreement and operational MOU between Liberia and Guinea, the first Steering Committee meeting for the sustainable management of the landscape was held in April 2024, with the launch of a transboundary Sustainable Finance committee and Biodiversity Conservation committee.
Chief Forkpa Vewu, General Town Chief of Konia welcomed everyone and thanked the EU for making it possible for the development of the land, which Konia donated to the FDA. A community representative, Mr William Taylor, Manager, Darbobakei Farmers Cooperative Society Konia expressed gratitude for the support received by farmers from the various communities under the PAPFor Project, thanking the EU, Fauna & Flora and the FDA. A representative of the CLDMC also spoke on behalf of the committee, expressing appreciation for support to the CLDMC.
Representing the EU Ambassador, Her Excellency Nona Deprez, Mr Stephan Cocco, the Program Manager, Green Team, gave a keynote address, emphasizing the EU’s commitment to working in partnership with the FDA and other relevant institutions. He underscored the necessity of conservation efforts, stating that preserving natural habitats is essential for future generations. He warned that deforestation could lead to adverse effects on communities and the country, referencing challenges faced in regions where deforestation has disrupted rainfall patterns and other associated climate change effects. He urged residents to recognize that forest conservation is not only an environmental responsibility but an economic imperative. He stated that effective land use planning is essential and that coordination among government institutions, including county and regional authorities in forest conservation is critical, as conservation is not the role of the FDA alone.
Director Bowier conveyed appreciation on behalf of the FDA and acknowledged the indispensable role of EU funding in making the project a reality. She extended gratitude to local authorities and community members for their unwavering support in preserving Lofa County’s forests. She urged communities to curtail excessive hunting, and unsustainable farming practices, cautioning that the continued depletion of wildlife could leave future generations without species such as elephants, which are nearing extinction in the region. She continued that the FDA is actively working with partners to formalize agreements for the protection of the Wonegizi forest. In conclusion, she highlighted that Fauna & Flora and other partners remain engaged in fostering community participation, with initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable practices, as the French Development Agency (FDA) has approved a subsequent project that will build upon the current conservation efforts, further reinforcing the commitment to ecological preservation.
Dr. Mary Molokwu-Odozi, Country Director of Fauna & Flora, in her remarks, reiterated the global importance of Wonegizi as a biodiversity hotspot, recognized internationally. She provided a historical perspective, noting that Fauna & Flora’s involvement in Wonegizi dates back to 2013, marking the beginning of efforts to establish a Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) pilot project and strengthen collaboration with the FDA and communities in the conservation of the Wonegizi forest. She confirmed that three communities around Wonegizi have received deeds for their land and that Community Land Development and Management Committees (CLDMCs) have been established, providing the basis for co-management of Wonegizi. Dr. Molokwu-Odozi further highlighted Liberia’s alarming deforestation rate of 1.72% per year, underscoring the urgency of conservation measures. She encouraged stakeholders to remain steadfast in their commitment, stressing that the benefits of forest preservation extend beyond immediate benefits and are integral to the well-being of both present and future generations.
The Superintendent of Lofa County, Mr. J. Laveleh Massaquoi, expressed appreciation for the project and emphasized the need for proper management of the newly constructed buildings. Given Lofa County’s strong farming heritage, he advocated for tangible benefits to be extended to forest dwellers, suggesting that a significant portion of financial resources be allocated to agricultural development. He pledged the support of the county authority in the conservation of the landscape. The Superintendent was joined by the Mayor of Zorzor, representatives from the Ministry of Justice, and other distinguished local authorities.
The inauguration of the FDA Wonegizi outpost office in Konia marks a significant milestone in Liberia’s conservation efforts, demonstrating the synergy between government agencies, international partners, and local communities in safeguarding the nation’s invaluable forest resources.