allafrica.com
Liberia Intensifies Wetland Conservation Efforts Amidst Degradation
Liberia celebrated World Wetlands Day 2025, highlighting the crucial role of wetlands in the economy and environment while addressing ongoing degradation caused by unregulated construction and waste disposal; the EPA is strengthening enforcement and developing a carbon market policy, collaborating with China and participating in the International Mangrove Centre.
- How does Liberia's participation in the Ramsar Convention and its collaboration with China contribute to wetland conservation efforts?
- Liberia, a signatory to the Ramsar Convention since 2003, faces significant wetland degradation due to unregulated construction, waste disposal, and deforestation. The EPA is strengthening enforcement, seeking an MOU with the police for arrest powers, and developing a carbon market policy to incentivize conservation. This is coupled with the development of 11 environmental regulations in 2024.
- What immediate actions is Liberia taking to address the destruction of its wetlands, and what are the most significant consequences of inaction?
- On World Wetlands Day 2025, Liberia's EPA highlighted the vital role of wetlands in the economy and environment, emphasizing the need for protection given the ongoing destruction in areas like Margibi County. The event included participation from government officials, NGOs, and the Chinese ambassador, who pledged support for conservation efforts.
- What are the long-term economic and environmental implications of continued wetland degradation in Liberia, and what innovative strategies could enhance conservation efforts beyond current initiatives?
- The EPA's actions, including pursuing an MOU with the Liberia National Police and developing a carbon market policy, signal a proactive approach to wetland conservation. However, the success of these measures hinges on effective enforcement and international collaboration, as seen in Liberia's participation in the International Mangrove Centre. The long-term economic impact of mangrove loss (estimated at US \$95 million annually) underscores the urgency of these efforts.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the issue of wetland conservation positively, highlighting Liberia's commitment to the Ramsar Convention and the efforts of the EPA. The inclusion of the President's proclamation and the participation of various stakeholders (government officials, NGOs, diplomats) lends a sense of collective responsibility. However, the significant emphasis on the threats to wetlands and the urgent need for action might slightly overshadow the positive aspects of conservation efforts. The headline, while neutral, could be slightly more proactive, focusing on solutions rather than solely on the problem. The overall tone leans towards a call to action, urging readers to take responsibility.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective, although some phrases could be considered slightly emotive. For example, describing wetland destruction as "severe threats" or using phrases such as "urgent action" and "enormous benefits" adds emotional weight. While these terms are not inherently biased, they could be replaced with more neutral alternatives, such as significant challenges, necessary action, substantial benefits, respectively, to maintain journalistic objectivity.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the celebration of World Wetlands Day and the threats to Liberian wetlands, but it could benefit from including specific details on the economic activities supported by these wetlands beyond general mentions of fishing, farming, and tourism. Quantifiable data on the number of jobs or economic output directly linked to wetlands would strengthen the analysis. Further, while the environmental consequences of wetland destruction are highlighted, the social consequences (e.g., displacement of communities) are not explicitly mentioned. Finally, the article mentions the Ramsar Convention and Liberia's commitment to it but lacks specifics on the convention's goals and how Liberia's actions align with those goals. This omission could leave the reader with an incomplete understanding of the international context and the implications of Liberia's commitment.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the significant loss of Liberia's mangroves (26% between 2000 and 2021) due to human activities like unregulated construction, sand mining, and pollution. This directly impacts SDG 14 (Life Below Water), which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.