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Deforestation in Liberia |
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Liberia is a country located on the west coast of Africa. According to the U.N. FAO, 44.9% or about 4,329,000 hectares of land in Liberia is covered by forest. About 4% of this forest is classified as primary forest - the part of the forest with native tree species, where there are no human activities. This forest contains 585 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass, and serves as a home to 881 known species of amphibians, birds, reptiles, and mammals according to The World Conservation Monitoring Center. This forest is now the target of large timber companies. Over the last two decades, Liberia have lost over 600,000 hectares of its forest to logging companies and other companies who use the forest land to plant large plantations. The deforestation of our forest is driven by the government's desperate need to generate revenue in order to invest in infrastructure development and the economy. As the result, our natural wealth, the forest, is gradually being destroyed.
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4 Comments
Much as it has some advantages, when done in excess, cutting down of trees lead to some grave changes in our environment. There's a need to implement stronger forest protection policies
Posted 04-08-2017 01:48
Your report confirms that Liberia's forest is under serious threat due to massive legal and illegal logging activities, increasing Chainsawing, invasion of protected forest areas for mineral resources, firewood, and human settlement. One of the main drivers of deforestation in Liberia is the kind of agriculture Liberians do- it??s mostly shifting cultivation. As Liberian forests are considered one of west Africa??s most important carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots, all this deforestation is causing loss of biodiversity, depletion of forest resources and changes in the weather pattern. While a few wealth-obsessed individuals are cutting down the trees, the effects of changes in the weather pattern are being felt across the country.
Certainly, there is a need to enforce the acceptance of forest-protection policies in Liberia. Two-thirds of Liberians who live in forests, need to change their thinking, they need to realise that the forests can make money without cutting down the trees.
The international aid, driving the policy upheaval is aiming to enable the country and communities to make money from reduced carbon emissions. In simple terms- Liberians will be paid to leave the forests alone.
Hopefully, this will stem deforestation and bring Green Revolution in Liberia.
Thanks for the report.
Posted 30-07-2017 00:54
Thanks Lemuel for this report. Deforestation and cutting of trees without giving the forest time to rejuvenate, is causing serious consequences in Liberia, as I have read. As I understand, forests of Liberia are part of the Upper Guinean Forest biodiversity hot spot, one of the areas of highest biological diversity on Earth. Besides the loss of this valuable biodiversity, legal and illegal logging in Liberia has also been held responsible for floods. Outbreaks of Ebola due to carrier fruit bats displaced due to habitat destruction, is also a serious concern. Thankfully, according to reports, Liberia is to become the first nation in Africa to completely stop cutting down its trees in return for development aid. So let us hope for the best.
Posted 29-07-2017 19:46
Yes Lemuel, deforestation, though age-old in origin, continues to remain a widespread hassle across several regions, especially in Latin America. Not only does it deteriorate the quality of soil available for future vegetation growth but it also makes soil vulnerable to erosion. This in turn becomes the lead cause of desertification, making conditions similar to the historic middle east. Thanks for your valuable information, Lemuel:)
Posted 29-07-2017 17:51