FDA and ArcelorMittal Liberia Sign MoU to Strengthen Co-Management of East Nimba Nature Reserve

By: Staff Reporter | www.thepointafricanews.com  | Monrovia

Monrovia, Liberia — The Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing the co-management and conservation of the East Nimba Nature Reserve (ENNR). The agreement was formalized on February 5, 2026 in Monrovia, and represents a continued partnership to protect one of Liberia’s most important biodiversity landscapes.

The MOU, approved for the 2026–2027 period, allocates USD 124,394 to fund activities designed to support ENNR conservation over the next 12 months. This includes logistical support, ranger patrol stipends, equipment, boundary clearing, and other operational needs identified by the Co-Management Committee (CMC) responsible for reserve oversight.

Officials highlighted that the agreement builds on a previous 12-month MOU that saw initial funding and early action in priority areas such as patrol support and training.

The partnership aligns with ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BCP), which has operated in the Nimba landscape since 2011. The programme seeks to address environmental impacts and support sustainable forest and biodiversity management in and around the company’s concession area.

In his remarks at the signing, Mr. Rudolph J. Merab Sr., Managing Director of the FDA, stressed the importance of transparency, accountability, and community involvement in forest governance. He noted that successful conservation depends on inclusive participation and strengthening the capacities of local stakeholders.

Representatives from ArcelorMittal Liberia reaffirmed the company’s commitment to biodiversity protection and sustainable operations, underlining that collaborative management with government and community partners can help safeguard endangered species and habitat integrity.

The East Nimba Nature Reserve, established in October 2003 under Liberian law, protects a biodiversity hotspot along Liberia’s northeastern border with Guinea. It forms part of the ecological Nimba range, which hosts numerous endemics and threatened species and is recognized for its conservation significance.

The renewed MoU is expected to bolster co-management structures, support law enforcement within the reserve, enhance biodiversity monitoring, and foster greater community engagement in conservation activities — key priorities for sustainable protected area management in Liberia.