Liberia Launches First National Mangrove Inventory to Boost Blue Economy and Climate Action
October 28, 2025
By: Laymah Kollie
Monrovia: October 28, 2025: Liberia has officially launched its first-ever National Mangrove Inventory, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to protect its coastal ecosystems and advance its Blue Economy Vision. The launch took place on Tuesday at the Cape Hotel in Monrovia under the Blue Ocean Programme, with support from the Government of Sweden, the European Union, and Conservation International.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), described the initiative as “a historic occasion in Liberia’s environmental journey.”
“Our mangroves stretching along the Atlantic coast and river estuaries—are vital shields against coastal erosion, nurseries for fish and crabs, and significant blue carbon sinks that support our fight against climate change,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said.
He emphasized that the initiative builds on the leadership of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, who in 2024 issued Executive Order No. 143, mandating the protection, management, and restoration of all wetlands across Liberia. The Executive Order, he noted, recognizes wetlands and mangroves as national heritage, essential for climate resilience, community livelihoods, and biodiversity.
As part of the effort to implement the Order, the EPA established a National Wetlands Task Force a multi-agency platform coordinating research, policy, and law enforcement to safeguard the nation’s wetlands.
Dr. Yarkpawolo revealed that the newly launched inventory provides real-time data on the extent, condition, and carbon storage potential of Liberia’s mangrove forests. “For the first time, we have a solid scientific foundation for blue economy planning and investment,” he said.
The EPA boss also announced the arrival of a state-of-the-art Elemental Analyzer, donated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The equipment will allow Liberia to measure carbon content in soils and sediments with precision an important step toward validating mangrove data and advancing the country’s national carbon market readiness system.
Highlighting the economic opportunities tied to environmental protection, Dr. Yarkpawolo said the inventory results “go beyond environmental science they speak to economic transformation.”
“Healthy mangroves and wetlands generate jobs, support food security, and act as natural infrastructure against flooding and sea-level rise,” he said. “They are also essential for generating credible carbon credits and ensuring benefit-sharing with coastal communities.”
The EPA has developed a US$3.2 million national budget framework aimed at preventing further degradation of mangroves and wetlands across the country. The plan includes community-based restoration, monitoring and research, law enforcement, and the creation of a national mangrove park.
Dr. Yarkpawolo called on Liberia’s development partners—the EU, Sweden, the World Bank, and UNDP—to help mobilize the needed resources. He praised Sweden’s long-term support to Liberia’s Blue Oceans Programme since 2019 and commended Conservation International for its technical leadership.
“This inventory is more than a report—it is a call to action,” he declared. “With science, collaboration, and sustained investment, Liberia can be a leader in the Blue Economy of West Africa.”
In closing, Dr. Yarkpawolo, speaking on behalf of President Boakai and the EPA’s leadership, officially declared Liberia’s National Mangrove Inventory launched, expressing gratitude to all partners and stakeholders for their continued commitment.
