Highlighting Liberia’s forest for the benefit of communities and people
The Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL), on March 21, 2023, joined other conservational institutions to celebrate International Day of Forest (IDF), in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. This year’s celebration was held under the theme “Forest and Health-A Path to recovery and well-being”. Participants from the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and partners, including SCNL, USAID-funded Conservation Works, UNDP, FFI, and WABiLED, as well as students, paraded through the streets of Buchanan from Monrovia junction to Buchanan Fare Ground.
The Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL), on March 21, 2023, joined other conservational institutions to celebrate International Day of Forest (I, in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. This year’s celebration was held under the theme“Forest and Health-A Path to recovery and well-being”. Participants from the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and partners, including SCNL, USAID-funded Conservation Works, UNDP, FFI, and WABiLED, as well as students, paraded through the streets of Buchanan from Monrovia junction to Buchanan Fare Ground.
After the parade, there was an indoor program held at the Fare ground where several remarks and speeches were made. Mr. Moses A. Massa, Head of the Energy & Environment Unit, UNDP, served as the keynote speaker for 2023 the International Day of Forests. He appreciated Honorable C. Mike Doryen, FDA Managing Director, and the organizing committee at FDA for selecting him as the keynote speaker. He said in 2012, the UN assembly set aside March 21 as an International Day of Forest and this day is celebrated around the world. This year’s Global theme is ‘Forest and Health’, a day set aside to raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. “Today’s occasion allows us to reflect on the global theme of our national circumstances and the specific needs of forest dwellers in Liberia,” he added.
The key speaker spoke on the theme: ‘Maintaining the integrity of Liberia forests and responsibility for all’. Shared forests are very important and irresistible. Forests are home to 80% of land animals and plants and cover 31% of the world’s land area. About 1.6 billion people around the world depend on the forest for their livelihood and trees absorb up to 160kg of carbon dioxide per year.
He informed the audience that trees are important for creating a clean city. “The urban area trees cool the air up to 8° by reducing air by 30%. Urban trees act as air filters by reducing harmful pollutants. Trees supply global renewable energy supply, and more than 25% of medicine that we used comes from trees product”.
Atty. Urias Goll, Deputy Chief-of-Party, Conservation Works Activity (CWA), recommended to the FDA to carry the International Day of Forests celebration to the people who live near the forest.
SCNL Sustainable Finance and Program Compliance Coordinator, Sylvia Dorbor, making special remarks, thanked the management of the FDA for organizing this event. She spoke on the importance of coordination between key state actors for the protection of the forests and urged relevant institutions involved to find a niche through which they can work together to conserve nature. She also urged all students, especially females, to consider a career in conservation or environmental science-related disciplines. She thanked international partners for their support but urged all to consider long-term financing of Protected Areas that goes beyond donor funding that is project-based. A symbolic tree was planted in observance of the day by FDA Managing Director.
