Foreign Assistance Act 118/119 Tropical Forest and Biodiversity Analysis LIBERIA TROPICAL FOREST AND BIODIVERSITY ANALYSIS i April 2018 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Integra Government Services International. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT 118/119 TROPICAL FOREST AND BIODIVERSITY ANALYSIS Liberia Tropical Forest and Biodiversity Analysis CONTRACT INFORMATION This work is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development through the contract number AID-OAA-l-I4-00017/72066918F00001. It was implemented by Integra Government Services International. AUTHORS Patricia Foster-Turley PhD, Richard Sambolah, Garvoie Kardoh, Nora Nelson, John Waugh, Benjamin White SUBMITTED BY John Waugh, Integra Government Services International SUBMITTED TO Lisa Korte, Contracting Officer’s Representative, USAID/Liberia DISCLAIMER The authors’ views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. April 5, 2018 Front Cover: Photo of Guinean pit sawyer in Nimba County by John Waugh, used by permission i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was conducted by Integra Government Services International LLC (“Integra”), under a task order through the Restoring the Environment through Prosperity, Livelihoods and Conserving Ecosystems (REPLACE) Federal Contracting Vehicle (IDIQ). The contract number is AID-OAA-l-I4-00017 / 72066918F00001. Team members include Patricia Foster-Turley PhD, (team leader), and Richard Sambolah, Garvoie Kardoh, and Nora Nelson. John Waugh, Vice President for Climate and Environment at Integra, was the program manager and editor. Benjamin White was the geographer. Lisa Korte, Natural Resources Officer at USAID/Liberia, was the Contracting Officer’s Representative. Yoel Kirschner, Natural Resources Officer at USAID/Liberia, was the alternate Contracting Officer’s Representative. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................... ii ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................................... v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... vii Key Threats ................................................................................................................................... viii 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. PURPOSE ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 THE USAID PROGRAM ................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................ 2 2. COUNTRY CONTEXT ............................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 Country Context ........................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Location and Biophysical Setting .................................................................................................. 5 3. STATUS OF LIBERIA’S BIODIVERSITY AND TROPICAL FORESTS ............................................................ 5 3.1 MAJOR ECOSYSTEM TYPES AND STATUS ...................................................................................... 5 Aquatic Ecosystems ........................................................................................................................ 6 Forests ............................................................................................................................................ 6 3.2 STATUS OF TROPICAL FORESTS ..................................................................................................... 7 3.3 SPECIES DIVERSITY AND STATUS ................................................................................................... 8 3.4 GENETIC DIVERSITY ..................................................................................................................... 10 3.5 STATUS AND MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS .................................................................. 10 3.6 STATUS AND MANAGEMENT OF KEY NATURAL RESOURCES OUTSIDE PROTECTED AREAS ........ 12 4. VALUE AND ECONOMIC POTENTIAL.................................................................................................. 13 4.1 VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY ............................................................................................................. 13 4.2 ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES ............................................................................................ 14 5. LEGAL FRAMEWORK AFFECTING CONSERVATION ........................................................................... 15 5.1 NATIONAL LAWS, POLICIES AND STRATEGIES ............................................................................. 15 5.2 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS .................................................................................................. 16 5.3 GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ........................................................................................................... 17 5.4 CONSERVATION INITIATIVES ...................................................................................................... 17 6. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY (INCLUDING TROPICAL FORESTS) ......................................................... 18 6.1 DIRECT THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY AND FORESTS ...................................................................... 18 Agriculture .................................................................................................................................... 19 Biological Resource Use ................................................................................................................ 19 Energy Production and Mining ...................................................................................................... 21 Invasive and Problematic Species .................................................................................................. 22 Climate Change ............................................................................................................................. 23 Pollution ....................................................................................................................................... 23 Natural Systems Modifications ...................................................................................................... 23 6.2 DRIVERS OF THREATS ................................................................................................................. 24 7. ACTIONS NECESSARY TO CONSERVE BIODIVERSITY (INCLUDING TROPICAL FORESTS)...................... 28 8. EXTENT TO WHICH THE MISSION MEETS THE IDENTIFIED ACTIONS NEEDED .................................... 30 9. RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................................................................... 38 9.1 Overview .................................................................................................................................... 38 9.2 Recommendations Based on Actions Necessary to Conserve Biodiversity (Including Tropical Forestry) ........................................................................................................................................... 39 9.3 other opportunities: ................................................................................................................... 42 Annex A: References ............................................................................................................................. 43 Liberia Tropical Forests and Biodiversity Analysis 2018 iii Annex B: Scope of Work ....................................................................................................................... 47 Annex C: Bio-sketches of team ............................................................................................................. 57 Annex D: Interview TempLate ............................................................................................................... 58 Annex E: IndividuaLs consuLted ............................................................................................................. 59 Annex F: FieLd Trip Itineraries for Forest and Biodiversity Assessment................................................. 63 Annex G: VisuaL Guide to Threats, Drivers, and Recommendations .................................................... 66 Annex H: Maps ..................................................................................................................................... 69 Map 1.0: Liberia basemap ............................................................................................................. 70 Map 2.0: Liberia Ecoregions .......................................................................................................... 72 Map 2.1: Liberia Ecological Land