Tubmanburg, Liberia – March 2025
The Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL), in collaboration with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), has successfully completed a four-day training program on “Guidelines for Surveillance of Diseases, Pathogens, and Toxic Agents in Free-Ranging Wildlife.” The workshop, held from March 8–11, 2025, in Tubmanburg City, Bomi County, was attended by 32 participants, including conservationists, veterinarians, researchers, and frontline rangers dedicated to safeguarding Liberia’s biodiversity and public health.
Funded by the International Alliance Against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade, the training aimed to strengthen Liberia’s capacity for wildlife health monitoring and disease surveillance. It brought together representatives from key institutions, including the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA), AFROHUN, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the NGO Coalition of Liberia, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), the National One Health Coordination Platform, and FDA rangers.
Opening Remarks
Speaking at the training’s opening ceremony, Mr. Michael F. Garbo, Executive Director of SCNL, expressed gratitude to the donors and facilitators for their support. He encouraged participants to take full advantage of the training, emphasizing that such opportunities are rare.
Representing the Managing Director of the FDA, Madam Jarsa Varnie Okai conveyed greetings on behalf of Hon. Rudolph J. Merab, Sr.
“I am happy that this is not just a workshop but a training workshop. I love training because it builds capacity,” Madam Okai remarked.
She further urged the organizers to replicate similar training programs in forest-fringe communities to enhance local knowledge and engagement.
Support and Facilitation
Expressing his enthusiasm for the initiative, Mr. Kelvin Smith of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) underscored the importance of such capacity-building activities.
“The doors of IUCN are always open for partnerships,” he stated, reaffirming IUCN’s commitment to supporting conservation and disease surveillance efforts.
The training was facilitated by experts from SCNL, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), IUCN, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other institutions. Participants received technical guidance on wildlife disease surveillance, early detection of emerging threats, and reporting mechanisms to help prevent zoonotic disease spillovers.
Closing Ceremony and Impact
At the closing ceremony, participants were awarded certificates of completion, recognizing their dedication and newly acquired skills. Representatives from SCNL and FDA highlighted the critical role of wildlife disease monitoring in ecosystem protection, pandemic prevention, and advancing One Health approaches in Liberia. They encouraged trainees to apply their knowledge in the field and contribute to national and regional conservation efforts.
This initiative aligns with global strategies to mitigate health risks at the wildlife-human interface and reaffirms Liberia’s commitment to wildlife conservation, public health, and environmental sustainability.
