The Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) C. Mike Doryen has stressed the critical need to arm Liberia’s Forest Rangers like it is done in other countries to enable them to effectively fight wildlife and forest crime in Liberia. He said the arming of the forest rangers will help them become more vigorous in securing the forest especially at this time when the habits of poaching and illegal killing of wildlife have become the way of life for some ill-intent people, which he noted grossly undermines the work of the FDA. He made these and other resounding remarks on Wednesday July 17, 2019, at the program marking World Chimpanzee Day Celebration held at the Paynesville, Duport Road Park, Monrovia. He supported his statement by saying that the fight against forest crimes, like all others, remains a dangerous venture, and as such the government and conservation partners need to endorse the idea of arming the rangers is necessary to ensure the effective management of the forest. The MD said the arming of the rangers will practically strengthen the war against poaching and the illegal wildlife trade which has and continues to destroy the generation of wildlife. He praised the European Union for giving $1.5 Euro. to Liberia through the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for use to fight forest-related crimes in Liberia. Last year a Confiscation Unit was created at the FDA to fight crime relating to illegal wildlife trade as well as other forest crimes. He also used the occasion to call for the creation of more job opportunities for young people in the forest sector in support of the youth empowerment program as dictated under the pro-poor agenda of the government.
For his part, the British Ambassador to Liberia David Belgrove said protected species of Liberia must be preserved while appreciating the government of Liberia through FDA management for the good work they are doing. He said his government recognizes the good work being done by the FDA and partners for protecting wildlife in Liberia in the forest sector.
Similarly, the Deputy German Ambassador, who proxied for the Ambassador of Germany to Liberia described chimpanzees as not just pets but relatives to mankind adding, “humans can’t live on earth without these animals and called for their maximum care at all times. The World Chimpanzee Day is celebrated on July 14 of every year internationally to create awareness on the protection of Chimpanzees and other protected species in the wild.