United Untiions Environment Programme ( Unep)

24

UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME ( UNEP)

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY (GEF)

PROJECT DOCUMENT

Project Number:

Project Title: Liberia: Preparation of a National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA)

Duration: 18 months

Beneficiary Country: Liberia

GEF operational focal point: Dr. Fodee Kromah, Executive Director EPA

Climate Change focal point: Asst .Prof. Benjamin S. Karmorh Jr.

GEF Focal Area: Climate Change

GEF operational Program: Enabling Activity

Implementing Agency: United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)

National Lead Agency: Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA)

Country eligibility:

(i) LDC Country: UN List

(ii) Date of UNFCCC Ratification: November 2002

GEF Financing: US$ 200,000

Government contribution: US$ 27,000 (in-kind)

Estimated total budget: US$ 227,000

Estimated starting Date: December 2003

Estimated Ending Date: April 2005

INTRODUCTION

1.  Liberia has developed this proposal for a National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) in line with decision 28/CP.7” of the conference of parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). As a least developing Country (LDC), Liberia has a low adaptive capacity, hence needing immediate and urgent support for adapting to climate change.

2.  The Liberia NAPA, as an end product of this project, will specify a list of priority activities based on a set of criteria. While the NAPA is not an end in itself, it provides a communication channel for an action programme to respond to adaptation needs of the country. The absence of the NAPA programme will lead the country to an increased vulnerability to climate change resulting in further socio-economic hardships. Upon completion, Liberia’s NAPA will be submitted to multilateral, bilateral donors and national funding sources, as appropriate.

3.  During the preparation process of this NAPA proposal, the following documents have been considered: national development goal, national environmental policy of Liberia as well as development assistance frameworks, synergies among multilateral environmental agreement in the following areas: institutional, cross-sectoral linkages. In addition, watershed management, agricultural practices, natural resource management, reporting and data requirements, research and education programme, national and international financing processes, and a preliminary assessment of barriers to adaptation have also been considered.

4.  The review of these and other relevant materials will also continue during the implementation of the project

BACKGROUND

5.  Liberia is situated on the west coast of Africa. Sierra Leone borders it to the West, Guinea to the North, and Ivory Coast on the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Liberia has a land area of 96,160 KM2 and a coastline of 560 kilometers. Its population is estimated at three million with an annual growth rate of 3%.

6.  The country is divided into tree major geological belts: the coastline, the plateau and steep hill. The rolling hills extend from the coastline to 130 kilometers inland rising gradually in elevation from sea level to 100 meters. The second belt is a plateau that is characterized by escarpments with the elevation varying between 100 to 200 meters. For the last geological belt, the land is steeper and hilly from 200m to 600m of altitude. These belts correspond to three ecological zones:

-The coastal mosaic of mangroves, wetlands, and lowland tropical

forest

-The upper Guinea forest on the plateau, and

-The upland tropical forest of the escarpments.

7.  There are two climatic seasons in Liberia. The dry season begins in late October and ends in Mid-April. The annual precipitation decreases from4, 000mm in the coastal belt to 800mm in the northern part of the Country. In the coastal belt, relative humidity rarely falls below 80%, and on the average it is above 90%. The variation in relative humidity is wider in the interior and reaches as low as 50% in February in the upland areas.

Agriculture

8.  Liberia is richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forest and a climate favorable to agriculture production. The country is a major producer and exporter of basic primarily products such as timber, rubber, cocoa, coffee and iron ore . Local manufacture has been small in scope. The principal food crops are rice, cassava, yam plantains and banana.

9.  Agriculture, including forestry and fishing, contributed 74.8% of the GDP in 1999. The principal cash crops are rubber estimated 56.9% of export earnings in 1999, cocoa and coffee, Before the outbreaks of the war accounted for about 40 % of GDP.

Industry and Mining

10.  Industry, including mining, manufacturing, construction and power, contributed 8.8% of the labor force in 1999. Industrial GDP, according to IMF declined by 7.0% between the period 1990-99.

11.  Manufacturing provided 4.7% of the GDP in 1999 and engaged about 1.2%of the employed. Manufacturing declining at an annual average rate of 9 % increased by 5.5 % in 1998 and by 24.4% in 1999.

12.  Mining contributed to 2.2% of the GDP in 1999 and engaged 5.1% of the employed. Diamonds are mined, and Liberia possesses significant amounts of barite. Export of mineral products was severely disrupted from 1990 as a result of the civil war.

13.  The services sector contributed 16.3% of GDP and employed 22% of the labor force, declined at an annual average rate of 29.9% in 1998 and by 40.8% in 1999.

14.  Liberia’s large open-registry (flag of convenience) merchant shipping fleet has been a significant source of foreign exchange.

Energy

15.  The West African Pool (WAPP) was established under the auspices of ECOWAS. The World Bank have agreed on a strategy and assistance program to promote regional cooperation in energy, trade as a cornerstone to rapid development of the power sector among member countries.

16.  The Mano River Hydroelectric project: the Mano River Hydroelectric project was an undertaking proposed by the Mano River Union (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone). The objective is to construct a dam on the Mano River (180 MW) to supply electricity to the union countries. The African Development Bank and the World Bank funded the initial drill tests. The project implementation is dependent firstly on the resolution of the crisis among member states and their political commitment to develop their sub-region. However a construction of a large dam could have serious environmental impact on the biodiversity and alter river ecosystem resulting to flooding of large areas in the Mano River basin that could trigger cross border movement of people and wildlife.

Forests

17.  Liberia lies within the tropical rainforest belt of Africa and falls within the upper Guinea Forest ecoregion. Liberia holds about 42% of the remaining upper Guinea Forest, of which the balance is shared among Togo 1%, Sierra Leone 5%, Guinea 8%, Ivory Coast 28% and Ghana 16%. This ecoregion is a forest zone recognized as a ”biodiversity hotspot”, a setting of international conservation priority because of its vast biological diversity. Forty years ago, 50% of Liberia was covered with forest. This figure is now reduced to less than 40% mainly due to shifting cultivation and logging operations. A mosaic of grasslands, swamps, mangroves characterize the remaining forests estuaries and wetlands are found throughout the country.

Economy

18.  Liberia is one of the Least Developed Counties (LDCS) in the world with an estimated annual per capita income of US$169.00 in 2001. The Human Development Report of 2000 by the UNDP ranks Liberia as one of the lowest in terms of the Human Development Index (HDI) in the world. The percentage of people living below the poverty line is more than three-quarters (76.2%) of the population in 2002.

19.  In 1987, according to estimates by the World Bank, Liberia’s gross national product (GNP) at average 1985-87 prices, was US$ 1,051 million, equivalent to US$ 450 per head. The estimated GNP declined, in real terms, at an average annual rate of 2.1%. During 1990-2000, the population increased by 2.5% and by 1999, Liberia’s gross domestic product (GDP) at constant prices, reduced to US$ 169 per head.

20.  By the end of the war in 1997 real GDP was ten percent of its pre-war level leaving the country in deep poverty. Depletion of the iron ore deposit, damaged the mining sector. Rubber production fell by US$ 440 million from 1988 to 1989. However, real GDP doubled in 1997 and increased further by an average of 25-30 percent reflecting a post war surge in rice, timber and rubber production. Still, real income remained one third of pre war level.

21.  Liberia has a large traditional subsistence sector and a relatively small industrial sector. The subsistence sector accounts for the primary economic activities employing about 70% of the population and is characterized by low productivity, use of traditional technologies based on hand tools and low cash incomes. Upland rice, vegetables and cassava produced for household consumption and various cash crops, including coffee, cocoa and palm generate meager cash incomes used to purchase basic needs and services. This sector contributed approximately 19% of GDP in 2001 and 15% in 2002. Poverty is due to low-income productivity of the land, labor capital and technology including high vulnerability to extreme climate events with low adaptation capacity. In addition, these are exacerbated by rapid environmental degradation, inadequate knowledge and skills in productive use of land and natural resources, inadequate access to land, poor health status including HIV/AIDS, rapid population growth and gender inequalities.

NATIONAL AND SECTORAL PLANS SUPPORTIVE OF THE NAPA PROCESS

22.  NATIONAL VISION: In 1998, the Government of Liberia launched the Vision 2024, which articulates the country’s aspiration for sustainable economic growth and development including sustainable utilization of natural resources.

23.  NATIONAL PLANS: After the Earth summit in Brazil in 1992, Liberia established in 1999 the National Environmental Commission of Liberia (NECOLIB) charged with the responsibility to co-ordinate environmental related activities, including forming environmental units within line and agencies, preparation of a National Environmental Policy, Environment Protection and Management Law, an Act creating the Environment Protection Agency, State of the Environment, and act as the administrator of the country’s environment and to ensure its sustenance. The commission is responsible to coordinate environmental issues in the country. This Commission was developed through consultations at all levels after the All Liberian Conference/Vision 2024 Conference. All these efforts are geared toward implementation of Agenda 21. In 2002, Liberia participated in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

24.  POVERTY: In January 2001, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Liberia reported on the level of poverty in Liberia based on an extensive household survey conducted throughout the country in August 2000. The report indicated an analysis of rural and urban poverty, and identified the major actors and programmes involved in reducing poverty.

25.  ENVIRONMENT POLICY: The National Environment Policy (2003) established the central principles of environment and natural resource management in the country. The overall goal of the national environmental policy is to promote sustainable development, conservation of the flora & fauna on a long-term basis for the betterment of present generations without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their needs. Article 7 of chapter II of the new Liberian constitution of 1986 provides for full public participation of all citizens in the protection and management of the environment and in consultations with, and the involvement of a cross-section of stakeholders. It therefore represents a broad consensus of the stakeholder. It poses challenge to the stakeholders, be it sectoral Ministries, the private sector, NGOS, and PVOS to assure implementation of the policy. The New National Forestry Law 2000 seeks to bring about a sustainable forest management policy. The Environmental Protection Agency Act calls for the decentralized environmental management plan in the country.

26.  ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION: The Liberia Environment Protection and Management Law 2003 is the instrument through which the National Environment Policy (NEP) is implemented. The establishment of the National Environmental Commission of Liberia (NECOLIB), in 1999 led to the review of several national and sectoral policies and acts including the forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, national parks and wild life. In October 2003, the national Legislature passed three protection laws. The laws are the Protected Forest Area Network Law, the Sapo National Park Act and the Nimba Reserve Act.

INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

27.  Liberia has initiated a number of policies and programmes for institutional reform to combat environmental degradation and ensure sustainable utilization of the environment and natural resources. The National Environmental Commission of Liberia (NECOLIB) has a strategic plan for the protection of the Liberian environment. Its goal include providing guidance and direction for environment and natural resource conservation, harmonizing implementation of environmental and natural resources policies.

28.  The National Environmental Commission of Liberia (NECOLIB) was charged to promote sustainable use and management of the environment and natural resources, strengthening the legal and institutional framework. It also coordinates the line Ministries and other stakeholders to integrate environmental issues into national socio-economic policies and programs.

29.  National Environmental Commission of Liberia (NECOLIB) has been transformed into Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia. Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia will implement the NAPA Project. The Meteorological Department of the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy will serve as chairman of the NCC. The institutional affiliation of the UNFCC National Focal Point is Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia formerly NECOLIB.

30.  EPA is also the focal point for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD), the Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) among others. The EPA also serves as GEF Operational focal point.

31.  To ensure efficient and effective implementation of the project, the Environment Protection Agency Act has established the national, regional, and town Councils for the protection of the environment. Issues of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change are new in the country. Experience in the issues is therefore limited at present. The following institutions are relevant stakeholders for NAPA: Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Internal affairs, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Planning and Economics Affairs, Ministry of Gender and Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, Liberia Petroleum Refining Corporation, Liberia Electricity Corporation, Forestry Development Authority, Environment Protection Agency of Liberia, Liberia Mining Company, United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, University of Liberia, African Methodist Episcopal University, Fauna and Flora International, Conservation International, Lutheran World Service/World Federation, World Vision Liberia, CONCERN Liberia, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, Uk, International Rescue Committee, Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL), Society Against Environmental Degradation (SAED), Sustainable Development Programme (SDP), Save My Future (SAMFU), Center for Environmental Education and Protection (CEEP), Liberia Indigenous Forum for the Environment (LIFE), ERADRO, WACDO and FACE.