EPA decries consolidated record system

The Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, says consolidated record system on the environment still remains a challenge for Liberia.

EPA Executive Director, Madam Anya Vohiri made the observation Monday, 31 August at the climax of a workshop hosted in Monrovia, according to a press release issued by the agency.

The release indicated that UNEP-Deployment and National Reporting System hosted a one-day workshop aimed at assisting the EPA and collaborative partners to put in place necessary environmental data for Liberia, amidst growing global environmental challenges.

It quoted the EPA boss as saying though a consolidated record system on the environment remains a challenge, the agency’s national policy framework on conservation is a formidable force to contend with.

“This is why the EPA is working with regional partners and stakeholders as well as countries to promote environmental protection and sustainability, thereby reducing degradation, improving air quality and other impacts on the environment”, Madam Vohiri added.

She however added that Liberia’s current reporting activities on the environment may not be as detailed as expected, but significant efforts are being made to get the basic information needed from the relevant line ministries and agencies to compile a consolidated scientific record system for the country.

At the same time, she hinted that since the first State of the Environment Report (SOE) was produced in 2005, another assessment which should account for the next SOE is yet to be produced due to financial constraint, exacerbated by the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease.

Madam Vohiridisclosed that in consideration of conservation in the country, the Environmental Management Law of Liberia mandates the EPA to review projects’ documents to impose go and no-go-zones for projects as well as make sure that the mitigation plan adequately lessens, if not alleviates, footprints of the project on the environment.

According to her, in a bid to establish a robust reporting system, capacity building for personnel of the EPA and the relevant line ministries and agencies is critical for the sustainability of the National Reporting System and information sharing on the environment. Press Release