Statement at the Ministerial Sessions of the Sixth Global Environment Facility
By
Dr. Nathaniel T. Blama, Sr.
Executive Director/CEO & Operational Focal Point, GEF
Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia
Da Nang, Vietnam
June 28, 2018
Excellences
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
I bring you greetings from His Excellency Ambassador George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, the Government and people of Liberia. On behalf of my delegation, I want extend my thanks and appreciation to the Government and People of Vietnam for hosting the Sixth GEF Assembly and the warm reception accorded my delegation since our arrival.
Liberia, as you may know, is endowed with vast numerous natural resources which include diamond, gold, timber, coffee, cocoa, rubber, and others. Liberia has the largest portion of the Upper Guinea Forest in West Africa that serves as habitat for endemic animals and plants species. Liberia is a hot spot for biodiversity.
Mr. Chair, In the quest to use these endowed natural resources for economic development, the Government and the people of Liberia has and continues to use these resources even before and after the birth of Liberia. The harvesting of these resources couple with other competing human activities are generating many environmental problems such as loss to biodiversity, pollution of water bodies, coastal erosion, destruction of mangroves and wetlands. These environmental problems are contributing to the destruction of the environment thereby undermining national development agenda. In addressing these problems, my Government as part of the comity of nations signed, ratified or acceded to many environmental instruments to ensure the protection of the environment.
Over the years through national and international support, we have work assiduously of developing policies, programmes regulations, guidelines, standards and plans to ensure the protection of environment.
Mr. Chair, Liberia was allotted US$ 7.3 Million United States Dollar for biodiversity, climate change and sustainable land management under GEF 6 Replenishment Period. To access this, amount the EPA worked with relevant implementing partners to access this amount through different project portfolios. Liberia envisages that those projects when finally executed will be able to reverse some of those negative impacts on the environment.
Mr. Chair, Liberia is at the moment developing a new national development plan, “The Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development” that intends to improve the quality of living for the vast majority of its citizen in an equitable manner. In doing so, environmental and climate change issues are going to be at the frontier of the new development agenda. This will ensure of greening and climate proofing the development agenda of the country thereby ensuring sustainable development. This will ensure the progress of my country to achieve the attaintment of the sustainable development goals at the national level.
Mr. Chair, any environmental institution including the EPA of Liberia will need adequate and sustained technical and financial support to address those numerous environmental problems and action plans. In light of this, may I take this time to thank the donor countries that have contributed financially over the years and for the new GEF 7 Replenishment Period. In the coming months, Liberia will undertake a national dialogue to discuss various environmental issues confronting my country. The outcome of the dialogue will lead to the development of an integrated project that will have a significant impact at the country level. In this light, Liberia calls for increment in the cap for country to access the Least Developed Countries Fund to address especially the vulnerability of flood and coastal communities of Liberia. Additionally, increase support for the Small Grant Programme cannot be overemphasized.
Mr. Chair, Liberia is of the strong conviction that GEF will again demonstrate the leadership role in the new replenishment period to ensure the timely disbursement of fund for countries like mine to protect the environment in a sustainable way.
Mr. Chair, finally on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia, I want to also extend my delegation heartfelt appreciation to the Secretariat of the Global Environment Facility for the excellent organization of work done to have this Sixth Ministerial Sessions of Global Environment Facility.
I thank you.