P. Vangerline Kpotoe
Dr. Emmanuel King Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has advocated for enhanced environmental safeguards, sustainable financing, and active community engagement to secure the nation’s forest ecosystems.
Delivering a remark on Friday, October 9, 2026, during the national validation workshop for Liberia’s Forest Sector Policy and Strategy (2026–2036) at the Liberian Learning Center in Paynesville, Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized the need to align natural resource management with long-term ecological balance.
The event, hosted by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) with funding support from the European Union’s Forest for the Future Facility, gathered key stakeholders to review the decade-long policy framework.
Expressing gratitude to the FDA, the European Union, and partner organizations, Dr. Yarkpawolo underscored that healthy forests are fundamental to national development.
He noted their critical roles in safeguarding watersheds, conserving biodiversity, capturing carbon, maintaining agricultural viability, and sustaining rural communities.
H added that proper forest management aligns directly with the environmental pillars of the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).
Dr. Yarkpawolo cautioned that commercial exploitation of forest lands must be balanced by realistic, enforceable regulations.
“Preventing damage is often less costly and more effective than attempting to repair it,” he remarked, urging robust pre-project environmental screenings, comprehensive impact assessments, and seamless collaboration between the FDA and the EPA.
He called for explicit mapping and protection of ecologically sensitive zones, such as wetlands, watersheds, river corridors, and high-conservation-value forests.
Furthermore, Dr. Yarkpawolo stressed that the 2026–2036 strategy must enforce measurable standards to prevent deforestation, mitigate erosion and pollution, rehabilitate degraded areas, and ensure ongoing regulatory oversight. Restoration pledges, he noted, require dedicated funding, firm timelines, and clear institutional oversight to yield genuine results.
Highlighting the social aspect of forestry, the EPA chief emphasized the protection of forest-dependent populations.
He advocated for inclusive decision-making that actively incorporates women, youth, and marginalized groups, stressing that fair benefit-sharing, respected local rights, and transparent grievance procedures are essential to the policy’s success.
“Sustained conservation depends on communities directly benefiting from protected ecosystems and trusting governing institutions” The EPA executive asserted.
To ensure effective enforcement, Dr. Yarkpawolo called for reliable environmental data, regular field audits, public accountability reports, and adequate funding mechanisms.
Addressing carbon finance opportunities, he insisted that carbon projects uphold strict environmental standards while ensuring tangible returns for local communities.
Dr. Yarkpawolo reaffirmed the EPA’s commitment to partnering with the FDA and international donors, calling on participants to rigorously evaluate the draft policy, resolve gaps, and clarify institutional duties.
“Let this policy secure forests that sustain livelihoods, strengthen climate resilience, and support prosperity for generations of Liberians,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said.
The finalized Forest Sector Policy and Strategy (2026–2036) will chart the course for managing Liberia’s forest estate over the coming decade, aiming to balance economic growth and job creation with climate resilience and biodiversity preservation.