SINOE – Authorities at Sapo National Park and Sinoe County District 3 lawmaker Alex S. Noah have clashed over the protection of the park.
James Smith, who works with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), raised the need for those illegally occupying the area to move or be removed.
In an exclusive interview with this paper, Mr. Smith called on the President of Liberia to issue an Executive Order that will help protect the national park from intruders, whom he said are causing serious problems in the park.
“The Executive Order should declare the Sapo National Park a no-go zone for unauthorized people. I am also recommending a joint security law enforcement patrol for three months within the park to remove all illegal occupants,” Mr. Smith added.
He said the area has been overtaken by illegal occupants, causing some of the protected species to leave the park. According to the forester, the Sapo National Park is home to great species like the pygmy hippopotamus, Upper Guinea Red Colobus, Western Chimpanzee, and other protected species.
However, the county’s lawmaker sees it differently.
Rep. Noah of District Three, during discussions with the people of the park community, gave a direct instruction to workers of the Sapo National Park not to touch or remove any illegal occupants from the park.
According to the lawmaker, the inhabitants of the park community are used to farming, hunting, and other livelihood activities, but the protection of the area has prevented them from practicing their traditional activities.
Speaking recently when he visited the Sapo National Park community, Rep. Alex S. Noah said it is painful that people who are used to their hunting and other activities are being deprived without any alternatives.
He said as a lawmaker, he is not against the conservation of the Sapo National Park, but what pains him is the lack of alternative livelihoods for the communities near the park.
“We agreed that people should not go into the park, but there should be a way for the people to benefit,” he said. “You cannot treat the people like they are living in slavery.”
According to him, because those in authority come with different plans that are not in favor of the ordinary people, their lives remain in poverty.
The District Three lawmaker said if nothing is done to improve the lives of the ordinary people in the Sapo National Park community, those who are illegally occupying the area will not move, and they should not be removed by force.
“Our people will be there until we talk. Nobody should use ERU, PSU, or any other force to remove them,” he said.
The lawmaker said it is time for them, as the people’s representatives, to stand their ground to ensure that they benefit from their resources.
“For the next six years, I will try my best to represent you. I will speak up to ensure that we all benefit from what God has blessed us with,” he intoned.
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