The Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL) marked its 39th anniversary on March 6, 2025, at the Monrovia City Hall, celebrating nearly four decades of leadership in biodiversity conservation. Founded on this date in 1986 by former national football team goalkeeper and conservationist, Mr. Alexander Louis Peal, SCNL has been at the forefront of efforts to protect Liberia’s rich biodiversity.
The anniversary event was attended by several government dignitaries, development partners, and representatives from international organizations. During the ceremony, two key individuals were honored for their contributions to conservation: Mr. Peal, the founder and current Chairman of the Board, and Prof. John T. Woods, former Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), and former Associate Dean of the William R. Tolbert Jr. College of Agriculture and Forestry.
Mr. Peal, in his speech, commended the SCNL team for their dedication to preserving Liberia’s natural resources for future generations. He also announced the appointment of Mr. Moses A. Massah as the new Board Chairman of SCNL.
Madam Jamiatu Watson, Paramount Chief of Porkpa District, expressed her gratitude to SCNL for their ongoing community development initiatives, including the renovation of Camp Israel Public School and the donation of rice machines.
SCNL Executive Director, Mr. Michael F. Garbo, acknowledged the support of the Liberian government, particularly the FDA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as the contributions of international partners such as the European Union (EU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank. He emphasized the need for greater investment in conservation efforts and urged the government to increase the number of rangers in protected areas to better safeguard Liberia’s forests.
In his remarks, Mr. Massah thanked Mr. Peal for his continued leadership and expressed his commitment to consulting him for guidance as he assumes his new role.
The event underscored SCNL’s ongoing mission to ensure that Liberia’s environmental heritage is preserved for future generations.
