Published: July 4, 2025
MONROVIA — In a landmark move to protect one of West Africa’s last remaining biodiversity strongholds, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire on Wednesday officially launched the NaturAfrica Taï-Grebo-Krahn-Sapo (TGKS) project, a €6.2 million initiative funded by the European Union.
The cross-border project, unveiled at a high-level event in Monrovia, brings together key government institutions, international conservation partners, and local community leaders to safeguard the TGKS transboundary forest complex — a critically endangered ecosystem shared between the two countries.
The launch coincided with the bilateral steering committee meeting between Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, reinforcing a shared commitment to transboundary forest governance. The project will be implemented over the next four years and aims to both conserve nature and improve livelihoods for local residents, particularly women.
“This is more than a conservation project — it’s a platform for regional collaboration, local empowerment, and environmental resilience,” said Rudolph J. Merab Sr., Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) of Liberia. “The TGKS complex holds extraordinary ecological and cultural value for both our countries.”
Also attending the event was Conservateur Général Adama Tondossama, General Director of Côte d’Ivoire’s Office of Parks and Reserves (OIPR), who emphasized the importance of cross-border collaboration in the face of escalating environmental threats.
Led by the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF), the project will work closely with Liberia’s FDA, OIPR in Côte d’Ivoire, and local organizations such as Notre Forêt Notre Avenir (NOFNA), along with other service providers, to implement a three-pronged strategy.
The first objective is to protect biodiversity by enhancing law enforcement in protected areas, building ecological corridors, and empowering community-based surveillance groups. The TGKS forest is home to several endangered species, including the West African chimpanzee, forest elephants, and pangolins — all under severe threat from illegal mining, poaching, and agricultural encroachment.
Secondly, the initiative aims to improve local livelihoods by promoting green economic activities such as beekeeping, ecotourism, sustainable farming, and forest product trade. Special emphasis will be placed on supporting women-led enterprises and youth involvement in conservation science and environmental monitoring.
The third pillar focuses on strengthening cross-border cooperation by fostering joint decision-making, harmonizing forest management strategies, and building institutional capacity between the two countries. The project will also improve infrastructure and research collaboration across the TGKS landscape.
The TGKS complex includes iconic reserves such as Taï National Park and Cavally Forest in Côte d’Ivoire, and Grebo-Krahn and Sapo National Parks in southeastern Liberia. These areas are not only rich in flora and fauna but provide vital ecosystem services for thousands of forest-dependent communities.
The European Union’s investment in the TGKS project forms part of its wider NaturAfrica regional initiative and the EU Green Deal, which prioritize biodiversity conservation and climate action through locally-led, inclusive solutions.
“The launch of TGKS marks a historic step in our collective efforts to protect West Africa’s forests,” said Laurent Delahousse, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Liberia. “It demonstrates that biodiversity and sustainable development go hand in hand.”
The EU previously supported the SUSTAIN project in southeastern Liberia, and the TGKS initiative is expected to build on its successes, providing continuity and scale in efforts to preserve critical habitats.
As the forests of West Africa face increasing pressure from commercial exploitation and climate change, the TGKS partnership offers a model for how international cooperation, local ownership, and strategic funding can converge to protect natural heritage while uplifting rural populations.
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