Buchanan — The coastal city of Buchanan is grappling with a severe crisis as relentless sea erosion threatens to engulf entire neighborhoods, particularly those within the fishing community. This environmental catastrophe is not only altering the physical landscape but is also devastating the local economy and the livelihoods of residents, including many Ghanaian and Liberian fishermen who have lived in the area for years.
By Elton Wroinbee Tiah, Buchanan, Grand Bassa County
Sea erosion has driven families deep into the main city, with some residents able to point to locations miles into the Atlantic where their homes once stood. Dozens of families have been displaced, and there are growing fears that if immediate action is not taken, “we will soon have no more Atlantic Street,” as one resident put it.
Christopher Teah, a 25-year resident of Old Fantin Town, describes the ongoing destruction: “The water is gradually consuming the Fantin Town Community, destroying houses.” For Teah, this creeping menace has become a daily source of frustration.
Rosetta Domah from Parlawleh Town, another area severely affected by sea erosion, echoes these concerns. She notes the dramatic encroachment of the sea on their land over the years: “The sea was once far away, but in recent years, it has encroached on our land,” causing the destruction of over 50 homes, according to her estimation.
The impact of the sea erosion extends beyond homes, disrupting local economic activities, particularly in the fishing sector. Domah, who relies on drying fish as a critical part of her livelihood, has seen her ability to operate drastically reduced. “I used to have many fish dryers, but as the sea comes closer, the land we manage has become much smaller, and we can’t maintain the same number of dryers,” she says.
Fishermen bring their canoes to the town due to Sea Erosion
The erosion has made it nearly impossible for fishermen like Enoch G. Mensah to build sturdy structures for their operations. “Our fishing boats are often destroyed, and we frequently return with nothing,” Mensah laments. The loss of several boats has further strained the already vulnerable Buchanan fishing community.
Residents report that the advancing sea forces them to relocate deeper into Buchanan, living in constant fear of being submerged at night. “Some people are sleeping at night, and the sea enters their homes. By morning, their belongings are floating on the beach,” Mensah adds. The psychological toll of this uncertainty is profound, with families enduring perpetual anxiety and a lack of clarity on what measures are being taken to address the disaster.
In response, residents are urgently calling for assistance from NGOs and the government. They are pleading for the construction of essential infrastructure, such as toilets, and the provision of fishing materials to sustain their livelihoods. Peterson Yorce, the community’s youth chairman, has raised an urgent alarm about the severe impacts of sea erosion, urging relevant authorities to take immediate action.
Yorce emphasized the alarming rate at which the coastline is eroding, threatening homes, infrastructure, and residents’ livelihoods. “Local residents of Big and Small Fantin Town have been expressing growing concerns as the ocean increasingly encroaches on residential areas and critical infrastructure,” he said. He is calling on the government, NGOs, and humanitarian organizations to urgently implement protective measures, such as building seawalls and restoring coastal vegetation, to combat further erosion.
Without immediate intervention, Yorce warns, a significant portion of Buchanan City could be lost to the sea, with severe human and economic consequences. Buchanan’s fishing community remains hopeful that their urgent calls for help will be met with swift and effective responses from the authorities.
In response to growing concerns about sea erosion in Grand Bassa, we spoke with Moses Henry, the Development Officer for the county. Henry acknowledged the issue but pointed out that the county had yet to conduct its own assessment. “We have heard about it but have not yet done our own assessment as a county. However, we will address this matter because of the concerns raised,” he stated.
Sea erosion creates smaller space for business
Henry also noted, “We have just taken over and will work with the necessary leaders to follow up on these concerns.”
It’s important to recall that more than ten years ago, coastal defense projects initiated under the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration came to a halt and failed to reach critical areas such as Fantin Town. Although rocks were placed along the beach leading to the Port of Buchanan and portions of Preston Street, these efforts were incomplete and left key areas vulnerable to ongoing erosion.
Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently addressed the growing concerns about sea erosion, particularly its impact on critical infrastructure like the Port of Buchanan. The EPA said it has been proactive in tackling the broader issue of climate change, which exacerbates sea erosion along Liberia’s coastlines.
During a recent dialogue, EPA’s Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, emphasized the need for urgent and collaborative action to implement the country’s National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), which are designed to mitigate the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels and coastal erosion.
He highlighted that limited financial resources, inadequate technical capacity, and insufficient public awareness are significant barriers to addressing these environmental challenges effectively.
In parallel, concerns have been raised about the Buchanan Port, where growing sea erosion has already damaged infrastructure.
Authorities at the National Port Authority (NPA) have even called for immediate action, describing the situation as a “national emergency.” They estimate that it would require over $2 million to construct a new coastal defense wall to protect the port from further erosion. The NPA has urged the government to prioritize this issue, as failure to do so could jeopardize future investments and the port’s strategic importance to Liberia’s economy.
These combined efforts speak to the urgency of addressing sea erosion in Liberia, with both the EPA and NPA calling for concerted efforts to mitigate the risks posed by climate change and environmental degradation.
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