Women for Conservation is delighted to announce our newest partnership with the Liberian Youth Biodiversity Network, the Liberian branch of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network. This group of passionate young people is on the ground making waves in Liberia, fighting deforestation and spreading knowledge to women about the importance of conserving endangered ecosystems.
We will be partnering with LYBN on an exciting new project based in Bonla, Liberia. Bonla is situated close to the border of Guinea, just 9 miles (15km) from the beautiful Mount Nimba Nature Preserve, a UNESCO world heritage site. The area is home to several charismatic yet endangered species, such as the winsome Pangolin and the mischievous Western Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus), as well as several Indigenous groups.
The Challenge
Liberia struggles with heavy rates of habitat degradation and loss caused by mining, unsustainable agriculture, and bushmeat trade. According to Global Forest Watch, the country has lost 27% of its forest cover since the year 2000, equalling about 2.5 million hectares. This devastating habitat loss dramatically exacerbates human-wildlife conflict, resulting in further threats to endangered species. Furthermore, the loss of forests contributes heavily to drought, because there are no trees to help water percolate into the soil or to transpire water into the atmosphere and create rain.
Our Approach
Because Bonla borders the Mount Nimba nature preserve, it is uniquely situated as a gateway to the area. Animals living in the preserve are likely to move around and through the area of Bonla, which is why ensuring that it is a healthy, conflict free wildlife corridor is essential. Luckily, LYBN is working on a project to unite the women of Bonla to tackle these issues.
In an effort to combat further forest loss and help women access alternative, sustainable livelihoods, LYBN plans to provide conservation education to the community of Bonla, helping women create a conservation network to come up with ways that they can be changemakers in their communities. In addition, they are planning an initiative to offer training on sustainable forms of income to raise household earnings, such as soap and shea butter production, beekeeping, sustainable farming, and food preservation techniques (canning, pickling, etc.). Who doesn’t love a tasty pickle!
Community Training Program
A LYBN training for women held on the importance & function of mangrove forests.
Wildlife Monitoring Initiative
The final part of their approach is to train women as wildlife monitors. Once trained, women will have the knowledge to identify and safely report illegal hunting and forest-damaging practices. This also provides sources of income.
How You Can Help
We need your help to empower the women of Bonla to become conservation leaders in their community! They are the ones who can provide the support this precarious ecosystem needs. Together, along with the Liberian Youth Biodiversity Network, we can give women tools to fight issues caused by climate change, create microbusinesses to help support their families and communities, and promote human-nature coexistence.
