The Humane Society International (HSI), in collaboration with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), has organized a two-day wildlife law enforcement training for the security sector and the Judiciary, intended to combat wildlife crime in Liberia.
Speaking Tuesday at the opening ceremony, held at the Forestry Training Institute (FTI) in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, the County Inspector, Jumah E. S. Goll, challenged the participants to enhance their skills to protect wildlife through the implementation of the law.
Inspector Goll stated that the protection of wildlife is the collective effort of every Liberian, including the security sector and the Judiciary.
He noted that understanding knowledge concerning wildlife species in Liberia will go a long way to prevent and protect these animals across the nation.
He pinpointed that enforcing the law will ensure the preservation of wildlife in their natural habitat, and if Liberia’s wildlife should get on par with others in the sub-region and Africa at large then serious attention should be given to the law protecting wildlife in the country.
Meanwhile, the Country Director of HIS, Morris Darbo, said it is essential for security personnel and Judiciary to participate in FDA’s mandate to ensure that Liberia’s biodiversity is preserved.
According to Darbo, Liberia presents a unique biodiversity hotspot in the sub-region that needs to be conserved for future generations.
He asserted that HSI is happy to support the training of law enforcement actors, and appealed to the participants to use the training as an opportunity to learn and join the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) in combating wildlife crime in the country.
For his part, the Technical Manager for Conservation Department of FDA, Blamah S. Goll, said the wildlife law enforcement training should be taken seriously to get insight into the law’s protection of animals.
Manager Goll stated that knowledge acquired will go a long way in ensuring that law enforcers understand and apply the laws that protect animals in the country.
He asserted that our forefathers should be lauded for preserving the biodiversity over the years, and now this generation should be able to protect and preserve wildlife for the future.