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<p>(Greenville, Sinoe County – May 10, 2025 )— As part of efforts to strengthen environmental protection and regulation across Liberia, the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo and his team, on Saturday, May 10, 2025, continued his southeastern tour with a visit to the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) office in Greenville, Sinoe County.</p>
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<p>While in Greenville, Dr. Yarkpawolo held a strategic engagement with FDA employees and park rangers, encouraging them to work collaboratively with the EPA and other relevant government agencies. He stressed that such partnerships are essential to achieving national goals for environmental sustainability.</p>
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<p>During the discussion, the rangers shared their experiences dealing with illegal activities in the Sapo National Park, including illicit mining and hunting. They highlighted land degradation, water pollution, and the widespread threat of illegal mining as key environmental challenges endangering the park’s ecosystem.</p>
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<p>In response to these alarming reports, Dr. Yarkpawolo extended his visit to the Sapo National Park for a fact-finding mission. Upon arrival, he met with the park's chief warden, John G. Smith, who provided detailed insights into the state of the park and the difficulties faced in protecting it.</p>
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<p>In his commitment to transparency and evidence-based action, the EPA Executive Director proceeded with a team of FDA rangers to the Sapo Eco Lodge — an establishment operating near the park and often frequented by tourists.</p>
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<p>However, Dr. Yarkpawolo made a concerning observation: tourists were being transported to the park via canoe without life jackets, posing a serious safety risk. Further investigation revealed that the Sapo Eco Lodge had been operating without an environmental permit — a clear violation of national environmental laws.</p>
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<p>The EPA Executive Director promptly informed the management of the lodge to begin the environmental permitting process without delay. He warned that failure to comply would result in penalties, including possible suspension or shutdown of operations.</p>
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