Protecting protected species in the Gola Forest Landscape from the Effect of COVID 19 Pandemic

Snapshot Solution

by Emmanuel Loqueh, Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia

Protecting threatened Species in the Gola Forest Landscape.

Emmanuel M. Loqueh

The Gola Forest National Park (GFNP) has seen an increase in the prevention of illicit activities due to the IUCN SOS program. Since the project's inception, the following technical areas have seen growth in the capacity of Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL) field workers as well as local community members made up of Ecoguards: On September 20, 2016, the government of Liberia passed a bill officially designating 88,000 hectares of Liberia rain forest as the GFNP. It also passes the National Wildlife Conservation and Protected Area Management Act, meaning this area for which the Government of Liberia set aside is to be restricted from all illegal activities such as hunting, mining, trapping, pit sawing, farming, etc.

The IUCN SOS project, Protecting Vulnerable Species in the Gola Forest Landscape from the Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic, includes cross-border patrol efforts, Ecoguard patrols with Forestry Development Authority rangers in the Gola Forest National Park from the IUCN SOS project.

Last update: 09 Jan 2025

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Context

Challenges addressed

Land and Forest degradation

Loss of Biodiversity

Ecosystem loss

Poaching

Lack of access to long-term funding

Lack of alternative income opportunities

Lack of public and decision maker’s awareness

Scale of implementation

Local

Ecosystems

Agroforestry

Tropical evergreen forest

Theme

Access and benefit sharing

Poaching and environmental crime

Mitigation

Connectivity / transboundary conservation

Ecosystem services

Sustainable financing

Gender mainstreaming

Protected and conserved areas governance

Sustainable livelihoods

Indigenous people

Protected and conserved areas management planning

Outreach & communications

Science and research

Forest Management

Location

Liberia

Gola Forest, Kurseong, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India

West and Central Africa

Impacts

Community members trained in GPS and Compass use
Camera trap deployment and collection
Identification of direct and indirect faunal signs
Identification of anthropogenic impact
Rules and behaviors of eco-guard
Training in smart mobile patrol in the GFNP
Community members were also trained on Covid-19 preventive measures.
Additional patrols were carried out by the Rapid Response Team and the Joint Patrol Team, which significantly helped reduce illegal activities in high-risk areas.
Food for work that was provided to the forest edge community in the Gola Forest Landscape
The community monitors quickly reported illegal activities, enabling Gola Rainforest Conservation (Limited guarantee) GRC-LG management to act accordingly.
Additionally, the project has enhanced community participation and involvement through the local Ecoguards program, boosting SCNL's presence in those villages on the edge of the forest
Strengthened enforcement and reduced illegal poaching and mining activities in the Gola Forest Landscape
Restoration program of degraded areas improved forest cover
Protection initiatives helped stabilize populations of endangered species.
Improved Community Livelihoods
Introduction of alternative livelihood programs by recruiting members as community Ecoguard
Reduction in dependency on forest exploitation for income.
Community-based monitoring and management created a sense of ownership
Promoted Sustainable Practices