Unemployment and poverty currently reflects 68% of Liberia?s 3.5 million people, most rural and urban dwellers survive by pillaging the nation?s precious wildlife and prime forest. Poaching of wide animals which is smoked and sold in urban areas for income generation appears to be on the increase due to the lack of employment opportunities for most women and youths. This trend couple with shifting cultivation, illegal logging and mining are undermining biodiversity conservation initiatives. In view of the above mentioned negative activities which obstruct economic growth and increases environmental degradation, Green-Pro felt that there is a need to educate various communities that fall within the proximity of Bain-Garr, Lao and Seclapea-Mah districts, Nimba county, about the use of appropriate and sustainable farming and economic activities that helps to improve biodiversity and create income for rural dwellers.
This project is a one year integrated-sustainable economic and biodiversity conservation project that will operate in 25 communities, Nimba County. The project will enlighten rural communities about the importance of embarking on sustainable economic and environment friendly activities whilst continuing their normal farming which complement alternative economic and nutritional needs of beneficiaries thereby reducing their dependency on wildlife and the forest. Unlike other activities/practices like shifting cultivation that take up huge land space and destroy the environment, beekeeping, Moringa, and snails? production have no destructive impact on biodiversity.
With the advent of the current government, Liberia is enjoying relative peace and prosperity with the assistance of the international community. Beneath this growth lies a multitude of problems that range from economic, educational, social and infrastructural issues. Most of the people are unemployed and live below one United States Dollar a day. Current statistics hovered around 68%.Althoughthe country is arable and has the potential to create employment and reduce poverty by investing in agriculture; it still relies heavily on external aid and also imports most of its basic commodities. Farming activities were affected long time due to the migration of most rural dwellers into urban areas, especially Monrovia, for safety and employment. Currently most of the farmers have returned to their communities, so as to resume activities which contributed a lot to the booming prewar economy.
The current economy recovery and poverty reduction strategies won?t work without the full reactivation of agricultural activities. Donor support channeled through national and international organizations have initiated farm rehabilitation exercises in various locations. Short terms projects have also been introduced so as to assist farer farming the rehabilitation, planning and harvesting period. Green-Pro has implemented projects like beekeeping, Moringa and snail production that will sustain farmers during the above intervals. These activities will help to safeguard biodiversity and promote the positive use of the environment.