Liberia's Forests Could Unlock Major Conservation Funding

After 24 years working across West Africa, conservation biologist Dr. Annika Hillers has a clear message: Liberia's forests are something special.

The Swiss NGO Wild Chimpanzee Foundation director first visited Liberia in 2005, right after the country's devastating 14-year civil war ended. She came to assess which forest areas deserved protection, and what she found amazed her.

"Out of all the West African countries, Liberia is the country where you still have more forest, and a lot of that forest is unexplored," Dr. Hillers said. Her early research directly led to creating two national parks: Gola and Grebo-Krahn.

Liberia hosts 42 percent of the Upper Guinean rainforest, one of Earth's most important biodiversity hotspots. Researchers still discover new plant and animal species there regularly, including three tree species never seen before found just a few years ago.

The Grebo-Krahn National Park protects 300 western chimpanzees, endangered pygmy hippos, and vulnerable forest elephants. Gola National Forest, spanning 88,000 hectares across Liberia and Sierra Leone, shelters over 60 globally threatened species, including 327 bird species and the critically endangered Liberian greenbul.

This incredible biodiversity positions Liberia perfectly for forest financing opportunities like carbon projects and ecotourism. The government has committed to protecting 30 percent of remaining forests by 2030, opening doors to international conservation funding.

The Ripple Effect

The conservation work is already transforming lives beyond protecting wildlife. At Sapo National Park, local women receive training to work in eco-lodges, assist visitors, and conduct wildlife monitoring patrols.

Women also participate in beekeeping and honey production, creating sustainable income streams for their families. The long-term vision ensures Liberians will eventually manage these parks and programs independently, without ongoing foreign involvement.

Dr. Hillers particularly loves this aspect of her work. "I can combine different levels of interests: the interest in nature, creating development and capacity building, and also women's empowerment," she explained.

The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation currently works across seven protected areas in Liberia, partnering with the Forestry Development Authority to expand conservation zones. Each new park not only saves endangered species but creates employment opportunities for surrounding communities.

For Dr. Hillers, working in Liberia remains a privilege after nine years, especially seeing commitment from both government and communities to preserve these irreplaceable forests for future generations.