By Precious D. Freeman
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has handed over Wildlife Capturing and Laboratory Supplies to Forestry Development Authority (FDA), valued at approximately US$ 10,000.
Speaking at the donation ceremony held at its office yesterday, the FAO Liberia Representative ad interim, Ms. Bintia Stephen Tchicaya, said that FAO, through the Emergency Center for Transbondary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), had for the past four years supported and participated in the World Wildlife Day in Liberia and other activities, with the hope to inspire actions intended to reverse the fate of key species of animals and plants.
According to her, the continued loss of species and the degradation of their habitats threaten humanity, as people all over the world depend on the resources to meet their needs.
She mentioned that Wildlife loss threatens and undermines the entire ecosystem and jeopardizes the well-being of all who depend on them, adding that it is a leading cause of closer contact between wildlife and humans, resulting in the increase in the risk of spreading zoonotic diseases.
The Representative ad interim continued that according to statistic from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, more than 8,400 species of wild fauna and flora are critically endangered, while nearly 30,000 more are considered as threatened or vulnerable.
She emphasized that based on these estimates, it is suggested that over a million species are threatened with extinction.
Ms. Tchicaya stressed that FAO and FDA continue to build technical working relationship and collaboration in wildlife surveillance at the human-animal-environment interface.
“In 2021, FAO conducted the bush meat value chain study in collaboration with the FDA and MOA in nine hunting belts/counties of Liberia. The study results showed that FDA and partners need to stand tall in planning a long-term nationwide awareness for the protection of wildlife and informing forest dependents about wildlife diseases,” she said.
“In the year 2020 work plan, FAO had envisaged conducting wildlife surveillance, including capturing of rodents and bats in forests and wetlands to collect samples for Lassa Fever, Ebola, Avian Influenza and other diseases for laboratory analysis in collaboration with FDA,” she said.
“Consequently, a National Wildlife Expert was hired for this activity and supplies valued at approximately US$ 10,000 were procured. However, there were delays in procurements, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges. Unfortunately, our funding partners were unable to continue supporting the field activities in the subsequent years,” she maintained.
She however promised that FAO will continue to provide technical support to FDA for the conservation and sustainable development of the Liberian forest and wildlife resources to maintain environmental quality and optimum benefits for all segments of society.
Receiving the items, the Deputy Managing Director for Operations at FDA, Joseph J. Tally, applauded FAO for the donation made and promised that the wildlife capturing and laboratory supplies will be used for the intended purpose.
He also assured FAO that with the support of the technical team and others, FDA will be honest and committed to the field of Liberia.
He lastly encouraged FAO that this donation should not be the last of its kind, but they should continuously lend a helping hand whenever there are resources that require their needs.
