Wetin happen for Liberia as dem celebrate World Wetlands Day 2026? E be like say wetland matter dey hot for Paynesville City o!
Na di Liberia Rural Women Organization for Climate Action (LiRWOCA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) join hands together for this celebration wey happen on February 2, 2026. Dem gather for Mesurado Wetlands, wey sabi say wetland na di backbone of our natural environ.
Di theme for di event na “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.” Na so dem gather government people, community leaders, civil society, as well as women and youth groups to yarn about di importance of wetlands for our land.
LiRWOCA Executive Director, Yundeh M. Butler, don come talk say di organization dey work grassroots level to protect wetland. She dey emphasize say community involvement and women empowerment na key matter for wetland conservation.
Butler don talk say dem dey operate for four communities: Tyler Island, Swakamo, Jacob Town, and Amocachie. Dem dey run campaigns to educate people about di importance of safeguarding wetlands and planting mangroves. Dis Swakamo wey dem celebrate for this year, na highly active community for dem work.
Over di past year, dem don empower women and youth through VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Association) wey dem don create six groups. Dem don also set up wetland management teams as community watch dogs for di mangroves.
“Wetlands na natural shield for us,” na wetin ED Butler dey talk. “If you wan keep your family safe, na wetland you gatz protect! Communities need to take dis matter serious.”
Butler also don talk about di wahala wey urban expansion dey cause, as Monrovia dey expand. She don welcome di President’s plan to create a national task force to bring order, since civil society no fit remove illegal structures from wetlands by demself.
As di keynote speaker, EPA Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, chop mouth as he dey remind everybody say wetland no be wasteland. “Wetlands na living ecosystem wey dey protect lives and preserve our cultural identity,” he yan.
He emphasize say mangroves fit store carbon wey dey make dem important for fight climate change. But wetland dey face serious threats like sand mining and land grabbing, so dr. Yarkpawolo announce di US$3.2 million Wetland Protection Program!
This program go use youth as security officers for wetland, restore dey damaged areas, build protective barriers, and set up mangrove parks for conservation and eco-tourism. Na wetin him dey plan make e happen o!
Montserrado County District #5 Representative, Pricilla Cooper, come join di people talk. She don promise say di Legislature go dey work for policy wey go help protect wetland well. She don give shout out to di President plus EPA for pushing wetland matters.
As di event take close, participants don plant plenty mangroves, dey promise to continue dey take care of di wetlands. Wetland matter no be joke, na im go fit protect Liberia tomorrow. Wetlands today, shield for tomorrow!
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