The goal of this project is to secure support for sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity at the grassroots levels. The project aims to enhance national efforts conserve Liberia?s biodiversity while at the same time supporting poverty reduction in communities situated within forest regions and on the fringes of protected and proposed protected areas. To do this, the project will raise awareness of the benefits of conservation and sustainable use of forest resources and introduce sustainable agricultural practices to communities surrounding the Wonegizi protected area. The project will also document local peoples needs and perspective and forest resource use patterns. A report will then be developed and disseminated to the public and conservation community in Liberia and internationally.

The specific objective is to improve sustainability of forest resources in the buffer zones straddling the Wonegizi proposed protected area. This will be achieved by introducing sustainable agricultural practices through the establishment of a demonstration plot in the target region especially communities straddling the Wonegizi proposed protected area. The demonstration plot will be used to showcase how improved agricultural practices can reduce pressure on forest resources. By showcasing this approach the project will increase awareness of the benefits of sustainable use and conservation of forest resources, and thereby serve as a motivation for community members to adopt and replicate this approach.

This project will be implemented in partnership with the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) Inc. The duration of the project is nine (9) months; starting July 15 2012.