Conservation at a Crossroad: Inside the Struggles and Hopes of the Gola National Park

By Liberia Forest Media Watch (LFMW) & Western Region Journalists Association (WReJA)

Reports of the rampant abuse of critical national reserves prompted the reporting collaboration between LFMW and WReJA).  The objective was to assess the level of threats hanging over the Gola National Park, a critical biodiversity spot in Liberia, share findings with the public and encourage actions to strengthen ongoing livelihood programs around the park amidst the influx of illegal migrants into the Liberian forests. The trip offered opportunity to speak with community members, mainly town chiefs, park’s warden/rangers, youth and women leaders about the management of the park.

The visit, made on September 19, 2025, was sponsored by the Liberia Forest Media Watch (LFMW) with grant from the European Union VPA-FLEGT program. The fact-finding mission in Kongbah District, Gbarpolu County cast light on both the promise and perils facing one of Liberia’s most treasured conservation areas, Gola National Park. Though our team of journalists were denied direct access to the park due to the absence of official permit, the trip still offered a sobering glimpse into the dynamics of conservation, law enforcement, and community survival around the protected landscape.

A Park Under Pressure

Located in the remote forests of Gbarpolu County, Gola National Park is home to a range of endangered species and complex ecosystems. But it is also under siege from the forces of deforestation, charcoal burning, shifting agriculture, and illegal mining. Rangers say while law enforcement efforts have curbed some of these activities, challenges remain persistent.

Ranger Terrence Davis explained that Eco guards have been recruited to strengthen surveillance, but the team is often outnumbered and under resourced. He recalled a 2024 operation in which rangers arrested an individual with over 250 pieces of bush meat, illustrating both the scale of illegal hunting and the resolve of enforcement officers.

Community Engagement: The Missing Link

The field visit revealed that while park management has engaged in community outreach, many residents of surrounding towns feel left out of conservation benefits.

Tima Town Chief, William Sumo, emphasized that without tangible incentives, hunting and small-scale forest exploitation would continue. “The government’s livelihood programs have not adequately reached our town,” he said, pointing to the lack of basic infrastructure such as latrines, roads, and health facilities.

Chairlady Mabel Flomo echoed challenges women around the park face daily “There are no empowerment programs for women, and farming remains our only survival,” she said. Chairlady Flomo said microloans, improved road infrastructure, a mini-clinic, sanitation facilities, and trade schools for youth would help.

Donor Supported Livelihoods: Progress and Gaps

The Liberia Forest Project, a donor backed initiative, is supporting cocoa production, lowland farming, fish pump installations, and microloan schemes across 43 neighboring communities. While these may be promising, community members say the programs are unevenly distributed.  In Funner and Carolyne, for instance, local ownership and implementation lag behind. For many families, the gap between conservation ideals and daily survival remains wide.

Less Traveled Road

Access to Gola National Park itself is a formidable challenge. The road leading to the site is in a deplorable state, raising the costs of travel and isolating communities from markets and services. The visit notes that reaching Monrovia costs about 12,000 Liberian dollars, an unaffordable expense for many locals.

Recommendations: Strengthening Conservation from the Ground Up

The fact-finding mission gathered a range of recommendations from park staff and communities:

• Increase logistical support, training, and manpower for rangers, with consideration for arming select personnel.
• Expand alternative livelihood projects and ensure timely benefits, particularly for women and youth.
• Improve road and transportation infrastructures to connect communities with services and opportunities.
• Establish clinics, schools, and sanitation facilities to improve quality of life and reduce dependence on unsustainable forest practices.
• Hire more locals as eco-guards and conservation monitors to build trust and shared-responsibility.

A Fragile Balance

While the inability to enter the park limited direct ecological assessments, the trip underscored a central truth: conservation cannot succeed in isolation of the people.

The struggles of communities like Tima Town mirror the broader challenge of balancing environmental stewardship with economic survival.

The future of Gola National Park depends not only on protecting its forests and wildlife but also on empowering the people who live around it.

Stronger collaboration with national authorities, expanded donor support, continuous media monitoring, and a deeper commitment to community development could turn the park into a beacon of sustainable conservation in Liberia.