Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – August 14, 2025 – The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, has underscored the vital role of Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) in valuing Liberia’s vast natural resources and integrating them into the country’s economic planning and policy-making.
Speaking Thursday at the Joint Project Steering Committee Meeting for all Conservation International (CI)–implemented initiatives in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo said that NCA provides a systematic way to measure the economic value of ecosystems and the services they deliver — from carbon storage and water purification to soil fertility and biodiversity protection.
“For Liberia, it means our forests, wetlands, mangroves, and biodiversity are not just environmental treasures but also economic assets,” he told the gathering of government officials, development partners, and civil society representatives.
Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo revealed that Liberia is in the final stages of developing its Carbon Market Policy, which is expected to be showcased at COP30 next year. Additionally, the country’s Climate Change Law will be finalized in 2025, paving the way for Liberia’s official entry into the global carbon market by 2026. He stressed that the upcoming NCA report will be a critical tool in international climate negotiations, helping Liberia advocate for fair compensation for its conservation efforts.
While commending the progress of ongoing CI projects, the EPA boss expressed concern about whether the benefits of conservation and climate initiatives are adequately reaching those on the frontlines of environmental stewardship.
“The ordinary people — our farmers, fishers, and forest dwellers — are the true custodians of Liberia’s environment. If they do not feel the impact of these projects in tangible ways, then we have not done enough,” he cautioned.
He highlighted the Small Grants Program as an example of how resources can be directly channeled to communities, enabling them to lead their own conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable livelihood activities. However, he noted that the EPA would strengthen monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure transparency, accountability, and equitable benefit-sharing.
Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo further urged CI and other development partners to align project activities and budgets with the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) and Liberia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
In closing, he reminded participants that the true measure of success should go beyond restored habitats, improved environmental data, or policy frameworks. “Together, we can ensure that our natural capital is preserved while also lifting our people out of poverty,” he said. “Our work must balance environmental protection with economic empowerment for the communities that depend on these resources.”
The Buchanan meeting brought together key stakeholders to review project progress, identify challenges, and strategize on how best to integrate conservation goals into Liberia’s broader development agenda.
