Conakry, Guinea – August 12, 2025 – Liberia has reaffirmed its commitment to regional environmental cooperation through active participation in the Mano River Union (MRU) workshop on Ecosystem Conservation and International Water Resources Management, held in Conakry, Guinea.

The meeting, hosted under the BRIDGE 5 Project, brought together environmental experts from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire to design the second phase of the GEF-IUCN Mano Project, building on the achievements of Phase I (2017–2024) and aligning with GEF-9 priorities in biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, international waters, and chemicals/waste.

Opening the workshop on behalf of the Government of Guinea, the country’s Minister of Environment, Mme. Djami Diallo, welcomed participants and underscored the crucial role of cross-border collaboration in addressing shared environmental challenges.

Liberia’s delegation was led by Mr. Desmond T. Thompson, Project Liaison Officer & Alternate GEF Focal Person at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He was joined by Mrs. Wynitta Gwaikolo-Mayson from the Ministry of Mines & Energy, and Mr. Augustine Saah Korsor and Mr. Jerry G. Yonmah of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA).

Discussions centered on protecting the Upper Guinea Forest Ecosystem—ranked first in the world for mammalian diversity—and managing vital shared landscapes and river basins, including Gola National Forest, Mount Nimba, Grebo–Taï, and the Cavalla and Mano Rivers.

MRU Secretary General, Amb. Simeon M. B. Moribah, described the gathering as a platform for “innovative, bankable environmental actions that benefit both people and nature.”

Liberia’s participation underscores its continued leadership in regional environmental governance and its dedication to safeguarding biodiversity and water resources for the well-being of future generations.