Published: October 29, 2025
MONROVIA – Liberia has taken a landmark step toward protecting its coastal and marine ecosystems with the launch of its first National Mangrove Inventory, a cornerstone initiative under the government’s Blue Ocean Program designed to boost the country’s emerging blue economy.
The initiative, led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with Conservation International (CI) Liberia, was officially launched on Tuesday in Monrovia. Officials hailed the event as a defining moment in Liberia’s environmental governance and economic transformation.
Partners Commend Liberia’s Leadership
Valentine Ebua, Conservation International’s Managing Director for West and Central Africa, praised Liberia’s leadership in prioritizing marine conservation, describing the initiative as “a bold step toward aligning economic development with ecosystem protection.” He urged the government to ensure that data from the inventory inform robust policy actions, including the creation of mangrove-protected areas and community-based restoration programs.
Representing the Swedish Embassy, Madam Kerstin Jousson Cisse lauded the milestone as “a tangible outcome” of the Blue Ocean Program, which began at the 2019 Blue Oceans Conference. She highlighted the significance of Liberian scientists, particularly from the University of Liberia, taking the lead in the study.
“We are proud to see Liberian ownership of this important initiative,” Madam Cisse said. “The Swedish Embassy stands ready to continue supporting Liberia’s journey toward a sustainable blue economy.”
EPA Chief Links Mangrove Protection to Economic Growth
EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel King Urey Yarkpawolo said the mangrove inventory is not just an environmental project but a strategic economic investment.
“Liberia’s Blue Economy Vision seeks to harness our oceans, coasts, and rivers for sustainable growth, fisheries, tourism, and renewable energy,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said. “Healthy mangroves are the foundation of this vision. When they thrive, our people thrive.”
He emphasized that robust mangrove ecosystems support livelihoods, strengthen food security, and serve as natural barriers against flooding and sea-level rise, challenges increasingly threatening Liberia’s coastal communities. Dr. Yarkpawolo also linked mangrove protection to the country’s carbon market ambitions, saying that “wetland protection is cardinal to generating credible carbon credits and fair benefit-sharing under our National Carbon Market Policy.”
Call for International Support
The EPA boss disclosed that Liberia has developed a US$3.2 million national framework to halt mangrove degradation through law enforcement, community-led restoration, and scientific research. He appealed to partners, including the European Union, Sweden, the World Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), for support in fully implementing the plan.
“This inventory is more than a report; it is a call to action,” Dr. Yarkpawolo declared. “Let us ensure our children inherit a coastline that is vibrant, productive, and resilient.”
He praised Sweden for its steadfast partnership under the Blue Oceans Programme and acknowledged Conservation International’s technical expertise in leading the inventory process. A Firm Government Commitment Dr. Yarkpawolo recalled that in 2024, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai issued Executive Order No. 143, mandating the protection and restoration of all wetlands and designating mangroves as national heritage vital to climate resilience. To operationalize this directive, the EPA established the National Wetlands Task Force, which is mapping wetland boundaries, identifying threat zones, and engaging coastal communities in restoration efforts.
The new inventory, he noted, will provide real-time data on mangrove health, carbon storage, and extent, key metrics for planning and investment. A Defining Step for Liberia’s Coastal Future Experts say the National Mangrove Inventory will position Liberia to strengthen its climate resilience, attract blue investment, and advance its regional leadership in sustainable ocean governance.
“With science, collaboration, and sustained investment,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said, “Liberia can become a regional leader in sustainable ocean and coastal management.”
As the waves of climate change continue to threaten West Africa’s coasts, Liberia’s first mangrove inventory could mark the beginning of a new era — one in which the nation’s economic growth and environmental protection move in harmony.
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