NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – Liberia has taken a major step toward addressing the environmental and social impacts of unsustainable sand mining, following the validation of a proposed regional project aimed at promoting responsible sand management and strengthening coastal resilience.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
The one-day national validation workshop, held Thursday at the Corina Hotel in Sinkor, brought together government ministries and agencies, local authorities, civil society organizations, academia, private-sector actors, community representatives and development partners.
The meeting reviewed and validated a draft proposal titled “Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Productive Sectors: Responsible Sand Value Chain for Coastal Resilience in West Africa.”
The 36-month initiative is being developed by the United Nations Environment Programme, in partnership with Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency and The Gambia’s National Environment Agency, with support from the Global Environment Facility’s Global Biodiversity Framework Fund.
Opening the workshop, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo said the initiative goes beyond regulating sand mining, describing it as an effort to balance natural resource use, biodiversity protection, livelihoods and economic development.
He warned that poorly regulated sand extraction could accelerate coastal and riverbank erosion, destroy habitats, degrade water quality and increase the vulnerability of communities and infrastructure to flooding and storms.
Dr. Yarkpawolo also cited weak monitoring, fragmented institutional responsibilities and limited alternatives as challenges that need to be addressed.
The EPA boss said the project would strengthen scientific data, improve policies and regulations, enhance institutional coordination and enforcement, and promote responsible sourcing and sustainable alternatives.
He also stressed the importance of creating biodiversity-friendly livelihood opportunities, particularly for women, young people and vulnerable communities.
The EPA chief emphasized national ownership, saying the success of the initiative would depend on meaningful participation by Liberian institutions, communities, businesses, experts and civil society rather than simply placing Liberia’s name on an internationally supported project.
The Assistant Minister for Planning, Research and Development at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Emmanuel Vaye, welcomed the initiative, noting that while sand remains critical to Liberia’s construction and infrastructure sectors, irresponsible extraction can cause serious environmental damage.
Montserrado County Superintendent Whroway Bryan called for communities and sand-mining operators to be placed at the center of implementation, while Conservation International Country Director Momodu Michael Kemokai urged stronger transparency, environmental compliance and sustainable business practices across the sand value chain.
With the national validation completed, the proposal will undergo final technical and procedural preparations before being submitted to the Global Environment Facility for review and approval.
