1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
Mangrove forest at the Mesurado wetland is depleting at a much higher rate than the global expectation. The decrease of the forest is the result of it being converted to other land uses such as urban development, search for human settlements, agriculture, sand mining amongst other uses. Adding to this, due to climate change, rainfall is sometimes experienced even during some months in the dry season leading to soil erosion and landslides. In Liberia, mangrove forests conservation is yet to be accepted by the local coastal dwellers due to their low level of conservation knowledge which leads to land reclamation, charcoal production or wood for drying of fish. As such the present intervention aimed at:
1. To address the issue of ignorance on the part of the communities about the importance and benefits of mangroves in communities within and around the Mesurado wetland.
2. To employ the integration of conservation messages into sermons preached by religious leaders, a method previously used successfully in the conservation and protection of elephants in Kenya and within the sub-region.
3. To address the continuous protection of the Mesurado Wetlands through a system of religious conservation awareness and education and alternative livelihood options for the communities engaged.
4. To ensure that young people take action in addressing climate change issues by their inclusion, and active participation at all climate change discussions and negotiations henceforth.
5. To link climate change with key development challenges, like poverty alleviation, agriculture, gender, health, education, economic growth, urbanization and migrations, governance among others
6. To address knowledge transfer and capacity building based on the personal involvement of local people are at the heart of this project and hence dissemination is an integral aspect of what is planned.
7. To raise awareness in terms of the important ecosystems provided by the Mesurado Wetlands: it is a crucial component of the blue forest ecosystem a powerful form of erosion control, and the existence of mangrove trees, it provides shelter and nutrients to young fishes, shrimps, crabs and molluscs where they can live safely and develop. (1,2)
1. To address the issue of ignorance on the part of the communities about the importance and benefits of mangroves in communities within and around the Mesurado wetland.
2. To employ the integration of conservation messages into sermons preached by religious leaders, a method previously used successfully in the conservation and protection of elephants in Kenya and within the sub-region.
3. To address the continuous protection of the Mesurado Wetlands through a system of religious conservation awareness and education and alternative livelihood options for the communities engaged.
4. To ensure that young people take action in addressing climate change issues by their inclusion, and active participation at all climate change discussions and negotiations henceforth.
5. To link climate change with key development challenges, like poverty alleviation, agriculture, gender, health, education, economic growth, urbanization and migrations, governance among others
6. To address knowledge transfer and capacity building based on the personal involvement of local people are at the heart of this project and hence dissemination is an integral aspect of what is planned.
7. To raise awareness in terms of the important ecosystems provided by the Mesurado Wetlands: it is a crucial component of the blue forest ecosystem a powerful form of erosion control, and the existence of mangrove trees, it provides shelter and nutrients to young fishes, shrimps, crabs and molluscs where they can live safely and develop. (1,2)
Quantitative targets
Raising awareness of native species: the site harbours three of the six mangrove species found in Liberia (Rhizophoraharrisonii, R. mangle and Avicenniaafricana)
Targeting 4 communities totalling approx. 40,000 inhabitants (spread in different suburbs of Monrovia: Peace Island, 72nd SKD Boulevard Community, Chocolate city community and New Matadi estate in Sinkor)
Organising 3 working sessions inviting members of the community
Establishing biodiversity clubs in high schools to help initiate environmentally friendly discussions at that level targeting different ages: teenagers and young adults - median age in Monrovia is 37.9 y.o in 2020 (1,2,3)
Targeting 4 communities totalling approx. 40,000 inhabitants (spread in different suburbs of Monrovia: Peace Island, 72nd SKD Boulevard Community, Chocolate city community and New Matadi estate in Sinkor)
Organising 3 working sessions inviting members of the community
Establishing biodiversity clubs in high schools to help initiate environmentally friendly discussions at that level targeting different ages: teenagers and young adults - median age in Monrovia is 37.9 y.o in 2020 (1,2,3)
Monitoring indicators defined
Number of species targeted
Number of people benefiting from the awareness campaign
Number of workshops organised
Ages targeted (1,2,3)
Number of people benefiting from the awareness campaign
Number of workshops organised
Ages targeted (1,2,3)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Implementation activities
Consultations and discussions began as early as 2020 with the community and stakeholders representatives. The proposal which developed in an intervention has evolved as a direct result of that consultation process and a pre-project development visit which was undertaken early on by the project team. The intervention is fairly new as it has been approved in July 2020. In April 2021, the Youth Climate Change Initiative- (YCCI-Liberia) Liberia, a climate and environment non-for-profit and one of the implementers already organised a session. Participants at the workshop were drawn from wetland communities including, Peace Island, SKD Boulevard, New Matadi, Sinkor and communities along the battery Factory area. Students of the University of Liberia were also in attendance. (2)
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The intervention in its current form has been previously implemented in the protection of elephants in Kenya and within the sub-region; it was also used in Ghana by Herp- Conservation Ghana. (1)
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
One of the sources mentions that a similar initiative will take place in the town of Todee, in Upper Montserrado County. Through the project, support will also be given to over 20 local organizations in creating awareness on the prevention of climate change, youth mentorship, biodiversity, and empowering farmers to engage in mechanized farming as well as helping less fortunate men and women in five counties. (8)
