The East Nimba Nature Reserve lies within the concession of ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML), an iron ore mining company, that takes its green image very seriously and, as part of its compensation (“offset”) mechanism, supports the CMC and FDA in the long term with the management and protection of ENNR. In December 2015, a joint project, funded by AML and technically supervised by Fauna & Flora International (FFI), was launched in order to ensure the effective ENNR Management Plan Implementation. The 2-year project is designed to provide the technical support and broad capacity building required to transform ENNR in a well-managed Protected Area. Its overall aim is the successful and sustainable conservation of ENNR through improved capacity building of the CMC. The project comprises 4 main objectives:

Objective 1:  Capacity building for co-management implementation at all levels, including Work Planning & Reporting, Computer Literacy, Financial Management etc.

Objective 2:  Building critical infrastructure for CMC operations (Project Office, Transportation etc.)

Objective 3:  ENNR protection, law enforcement patrols and threat monitoring

Objective 4:  Biodiversity baseline research and long-term biomonitoring

The pictures below give an insight in the main activities that are carried out by the CMC with support of the project.

 

Setting demarcation stones at the boundary line

Setting up sign boards

Cleaning campaign in ENNR

Biomonitoring data collection

Butterfly survey

Ranger training

Study Tour of CMC members to attend a trans-boundary workshop in USA

Law enforcement and confiscation of hunting equipment

Arrest of a hunter with bushmeat

Awareness campaigns for local communities

Establish transboundary collaboration with Guinean counterpart

ENNR boundary line brushing and demarcation

In 2010, a Co-Management Agreement was signed between the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and the stakeholder communities in order to jointly manage the East Nimba Nature Reserve through a joint board, called the Co-Management Committee (CMC). The CMC comprises twelve members – six representatives of the local communities and six representatives from the FDA. Both parties share their management responsibilities, with the community representatives leading on community-related operations around ENNR, such as awareness raising, sensitization, human-wildlife conflicts etc., while the FDA leads on technical operations within the Reserve, including law enforcement patrols, biomonitoring, research etc..

Please find below the current CMC members.

Saye Thompson

_Position within CMC:_ _Joined CMC:_ _Personal Information:_

Chairman April 2010 I live in Gbapa, married with six (6) children. Beside supporting CMC, I am the Chairman of the Joint Community Forest Management Body (JCFMB); also engaged in farming and diamond mining in my farmland and student willing to enrol in any College or University .

 

Joe Dayee

_Position within CMC:_ _Joined CMC:_ _Personal Information:_

Co-Chairman for Awareness & Mobilization April 2010 I live in Goagartuo, Zar Chiefdom and I’m married with eight (8) children. I’m a farmer, and working in the CMC till present.

Dada S. Konkah

 

_Position within CMC:_ _Joined CMC:_ _Personal Information:_

Secretary April 2010 I live in Gbapa, Nimba County, Republic of Liberia. I am married with six (6) children. Now I’m engaged in working for the Joint Community Forest Management Body (JCFMB) and as secretary for the ENNR Co-Management Committee (CMC). Besides, I am a community mobilizer and a farmer.

James Karmen

 

_Position within CMC:_ _Joined CMC:_ _Personal Information:_

Public Relation Officer April 2010 I live in Zolowee Town, Nimba County. I am married and blessed with six (6) living children. I am a certificated Nurse Aid running my own Drugs store and also a member of the Joint Community Forest Management Body (JCFMB) as a Treasurer besides supporting the CMC.

Hellen Weanquoi

 

_Position within CMC:_ _Joined CMC:_ _Personal Information:_

Chaplain April 2010 I live in Zolowee town and I’m blessed with four (4) children. Besides supporting the CMC, I am engaged in business and farming. I am the chaplain of the CMC and have been working with the ENNR since 2010.

Wellington Y. Tuo

 

_Position within CMC:_ _Joined CMC:_ _Personal Information:_

Public Relation Officer Assistant April 2016 I live in Zortapa; I am married and have three (3) children. Besides supporting the CMC, I am mainly engaged in gardening. I am a member of CMC working in ENNR.

Korvah K Vanyanbah

 

_Position within CMC:_ _Joined CMC:_ _Personal Information:_

Co-Chair for Technical Operations April 2010 I was born in Lofa County, Liberia. I was employed with FDA in 2007 and assigned as Park Biologist. Educational Level: BSc. in General Forestry University of Liberia. Certificate: International Traning course for Establishment and Management of Field Research Station (2008), Instructor at Nimba County Community College (2012-2014)

Grace Kotee

 

_Position within CMC:_ _Joined CMC:_ _Personal Information:_

Assistant Secretary April 2017 I live in Zortapa. I’m not married and don’t have a kid yet. I hold an Associate degree in Forestry from the Nimba County Community College. Besides supporting the CMC, I’m the Secretary for the East Nimba Nature Reserve since May 2016.

Joseph K. Wleah

 

_Position within CMC:_ _Joined CMC:_ _Personal Information:_

Member December 2015 I am married and blessed with ten (10) children and have been employed with this entity since 1985. After my graduation from the Forestry School as Law Enforcement Ranger, I served as a Data Recorder, District Forest D-B & Scaler with FDA. Currently I’m Zone Warden of ENNR Zone 1

Mohammed Sirleaf

_Position within CMC:_ _Joined CMC:_ _Personal Information:_

Member June 2016 I am employed with the Forestry Development Authority and FDA Zone 2 Warden working in the East Nimba Nature Reserve.

Samuel M. Freeman

_Position within CMC:_ _Joined CMC:_ _Personal Information:_

Member June 2015 I was transferred from Sapo National Park (SNP), which is the mother Park of Liberia, in 2015 where I served for fifteen (15) years as Conservation Education Officer and later as Zone Warden. I am married with three children and presently I serve as Zone Warden of Zone 3 at ENNR with residence in Camp 4, Nimba County.

Moses N. Gonsahn

_Position within CMC:_ _Joined CMC:_ _Personal Information:_

Member October 2012 I live in Yekepa, Camp 4 Nimba County. I am married with twelve (12) children. Besides supporting the CMC, I am Community Engagement Ranger working in ENNR since 1988.