Bio-diversity

Considering the high level of unemployment and poverty which currently reflects 68% of Liberia s 3.5 million people, most rural and urban dwellers survive by pillaging the nation s precious wildlife and prime forest. Poaching of wide animals which is smoked and sold in urban areas for income generation appears to be on the increase due to the lack of employment opportunities for most women and youths. This trend couple with shifting cultivation, illegal logging and mining are undermining biodiversity conservation initiatives. In view of the mentioned negative activities which obstruct economic growth and increases environmental degradation, WAI-Liberia felt that there is a need to educate various communities that fall within the proximity of Dubli Island in Handii, Fuahmah District, Bong County, about the use of appropriate and sustainable farming and economic activities that helps to improve biodiversity and create income for rural dwellers. This project is a one year integrated-sustainable economic and biodiversity conservation project that will operate in communities around and on the Dublin Island, Bong County. The project will enlighten rural communities about the importance of embarking on sustainable economic and environment friendly activities whilst continuing their normal farming which complement alternative economic and nutritional needs of beneficiaries thereby reducing their dependency on wildlife and the forest. Unlike other activities/practices like shifting cultivation that take up huge land space and destroy the environment, beekeeping, Moringa, and snails production have no destructive impact on biodiversity. With the advent of the current government, Liberia is enjoying relative peace and prosperity with the assistance of the international community. Beneath this growth lies a multitude of problems that range from economic, educational, social and infrastructural issues. Most of the people are unemployed and live below one United States Dollar a day. Current statistics hovered around 68%.Althoughthe country is arable and has the potential to create employment and reduce poverty by investing in agriculture; it still relies heavily on external aid and also imports most of its basic commodities. Farming activities were affected long time due to the migration of most rural dwellers into urban areas, especially Monrovia, for safety and employment. Some farmers have returned to their communities so as to resume activities which contributed a lot to the booming prewar economy.

Liberia