Act – 2016 – Act Adopting the National Wildlife Conservation and Protected Area Management Law of Liberia

The Act Adopting the National Wildlife Conservation and Protected Area Management Law of Liberia (‘the Act’) aims to maintain, protect and preserve Liberia’s unique biodiversity in a manner that supports both the recovery of wildlife and the sustainable use of wildlife products by forest-dependent communities. It is an important mechanism to implement Liberia’s obligations under international law as party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention on the Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (RAMSAR).

The Act contains provisions regulating Protected Areas, wildlife conservation, wildlife use rights, institutional arrangements (including functions of the Forestry Development Authority under the Act, and Convention implementation), and offenses and penalties. Importantly, the Act also provides for community-based forest management that aims to meet their livelihood needs while accomplishing conservation objectives.