Tahn, Grand Capemount County- April 21, 2022: The Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) presented equipment such as; water pump machines, gold rug, shovels, diggers, rainboots, raincoats, buckets and heavy-duty rocket graining machine worth $10,000.00 to Artisanal and Small Skill Miners in Grand Capemount and Gbarpolu counties respectively.
According to the project coordinator, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), Richard Hoff II, who proxied for Michael F. Garbo, Executive Director of SCNL, said it was part of SCNL’s Gola Forest Landscape support to Artisanal Miners around the Gola Forest National Park. ‘’This is in support of sustainable mining within the community forest, and the conservation of the National Park,’’ he added.
Presenting the materials on behalf of Gesler E. Murray, Minister of Mines and Energy, Assistant Minister for Planning and Development,Johnson Wallibo thanked the CEPF and SCNL for the level of support geared towards protecting biodiversity and community livelihood. The Minister called on the Miners to follow the mining regulations and ensure sustainable mining are done within community forest, especially those around the Gola Forest National Park.
The CEPF funded project began in January 2020, and is expected to end June 30, 2022. The project is supporting (local miners and community dwellers) as a means of reducing deforestation which largely contributes to climate change.
