INTRODUCTION

Liberia contains wetlands that provide basic ecosystem services and offer a wide range of functions that benefit primary industries such as forestry, fisheries, agriculture and ecotourism that are essential for the livelihood of human beings and sustenance of other living things. The coming into being of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the opportunity to prepare a National Wetlands Policy in 2014 based on the National Environmental Policy of Liberia and the Environmental Management Act. The EPA Act promulgates a framework legislation, which provides the mandate of these standards, guidelines and procedures for wetland protection, based on the National Wetlands Policy to ensure sustainable management of wetland resources and the environment in Liberia. The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia is the custodian of quality assurance of Liberia’s wetlands resources. Part of its responsibilities is to ensure that the quality of Liberia’s wetland resources remains fit for sustainable use and that the livelihood of both human and the ecosystems are maintained and protected. These aspirations are achieved through effective management of wetland resources.

The establishment of a regulatory instrument is a first step towards a transformative progress in achieving the goals of improving access, management and sustainable use of wetlands in Liberia. This regulatory instrument is consistent with Part VI Sections 74 and 75 of the Environment Protection and Management Law of Liberia 2003.