Photo credit: www.conservation.org
Mapping Liberia’s Ecosystems: A Step Towards Sustainable Development
Within Liberia’s borders lies one of the last strongholds of intact forests in West Africa.
As the nation begins to recover economically after years of civil conflict, concerns are arising regarding the sustainability of its natural ecosystems. The threats posed by unwarranted oil palm cultivation, urban expansion, and logging activities could jeopardize these vital resources.
To safeguard these ecosystems, it is imperative for the Liberian government to identify the locations of its most valuable natural environments, assess their current status, and understand the critical services they provide to communities.
A pioneering initiative is underway that seeks to achieve these objectives and pave the way for a more sustainable future for Liberia. In collaboration with Conservation International and NASA, the Liberian government has undertaken extensive mapping of the nation’s diverse ecosystems, including rich forests and coastal mangroves, along with an evaluation of how these areas have evolved over time.
The resulting “Ecosystem Extent Maps” will allow the government to quantify the economic advantages of Liberia’s natural resources and the essential services they offer—often referred to as the country’s “natural capital.” This mapping was facilitated through the utilization of data from NASA’s fleet of Earth-observing satellites, complemented by field surveys conducted by Conservation International researchers.
Moving forward, decision-makers need to leverage these maps to highlight the value of Liberia’s natural capital in relation to long-term economic growth and strategic development planning.
“These maps empower the government to accurately gauge the extent of Liberia’s forests, mangroves, and freshwater systems, all of which contribute vital services that support economic well-being and community resilience,” stated Daniel Juhn, vice president of Conservation International’s Moore Center for Science.
In conjunction with the Liberian government, Conservation International and NASA plan to refine these maps further, offering more detailed insights regarding ecosystem conditions and the specific services provided to both local and regional communities.
This mapping project in Liberia serves as a template for future initiatives in countries such as Gabon and Botswana, reinforcing the objectives of the Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa (GDSA). This declaration represents a commitment from eighteen African nations to adopt a developmental framework that emphasizes the economic significance of the continent’s natural resources.
“Through this effort, the Liberian government is at the forefront regionally in evaluating nature’s economic values, an essential factor for guiding sustainable planning and conservation actions both within the country and throughout Africa,” Juhn added.
To understand more about how these maps will be utilized by the Liberian government to safeguard the nation’s natural resources and benefits, watch the video below.
Video courtesy of NASA.
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