History Sapo National Park

1 history

1.1 designation , history
1.2 civil war in liberia
1.3 post-war developments

history
designation , history

in 1976, liberian forestry development authority created manage , preserve country s forest resources. year later, in 1977, division of wildlife , national parks formed under leadership of alexander peal, served head until 1990. 1982, 7 protected areas has been proposed in liberia, including 3 national parks. of these, sapo national park — named after local sapo (or sao) tribe — formally designated, in 1983, people s redemption council. @ time, , twenty years, covered area of 1,308 km (505 sq mi) east of sinoe river , south of putu mountains. park s original boundaries set , management plan drafted division of wildlife , national parks, in cooperation world wildlife fund, world conservation union, , peace corps.

throughout history, sapo national park has been threatened illegal farming, hunting, logging, , mining, exacerbated country s grinding poverty , social , political instability. however, in 1990s, world conservation monitoring centre reported [rural development projects around park , general acceptance of existence have helped minimise potential conflicts. until 1990s, poaching limited due various initiatives, funded united states agency international development, made local villagers stakeholders park s preservation.

civil war in liberia

during first liberian civil war, sapo national park fell hands of rebel forces, , of park s infrastructure , equipment damaged or destroyed, including wildlife rehabilitation , orphanage facility constructed in 1989 , supported friends of animals. of 33 park employees, @ least 3 killed , 7 became refugees. extent of illegal resource extraction inside park during period of rebel control disputed. john terborgh, professor of environmental science , biology @ duke university, writes [l]ogging rampant during war . however, peal reported logging limited, , farming , hunting pressures minimised, population displacement — including exodus of people out of on 2 dozen villages surrounding park — , prevailing climate of insecurity, extent species populations increased during war years. william powers, catholic relief services official posted liberia 1999 2001, noted park war-time haven small groups of people, scavenged food , hunted bushmeat survive. logging , poaching became more common after war s end in 1996.

in 2002, allegations surfaced president charles taylor had sold concessions worth several millions of united states dollars hong kong-based timber company — oriental timber company — conduct logging within boundaries of park. funds reportedly pocketed taylor or used secure loyalty of various senior commanders, arm loyalist forces embroiled in second liberian civil war (1999–2003), , acquire mercenary fighters south africa. liberia s minister of information, reginald goodridge, denied allegations, noting no evidence of logging found during national geographic society team s two-week visit park.

post-war developments

fauna , flora international , world wildlife fund (wwf) worked liberia s forestry development authority , society conservation of nature of liberia (scnl) prepare two-year initiative restart management of park. funded darwin initiative of united kingdom s department environment, food , rural affairs , world wildlife fund 2000–2002, objectives of initiative re-establish park s management, build support park among local community, , build liberia s capacity in conservation management , planning. scnl received grant whitley foundation begin programme monitor park s large mammals.

there has been slow progress in establishment of protected areas in liberia. sapo national park, proclaimed in 1983, country s first protected area. approval of sapo national park act (an act extension of sapo national park) on october 10, 2003 expanded size of park 1,804 km (697 sq mi), constituting increase of more 37%. act recognised park being @ core of immense forests block of upper guinea forest ecosystem important conservation of biodiversity of liberia , of west africa whole . 135 km (33,359 acres) mount nimba nature reserve, covering 4 percent of liberia s forest land, created @ same time become liberia s second protected area.

the peace followed conclusion of second liberian civil war gave rise new threats park. groups of fighters , civilians moved park during final months of conflict — escape conflict , others harvest timber or prospect gold. influx of people park continued after war s end, growing full-scale gold rush. accompanying or following prospectors hunters, many of them former combatants, poached park s animals sell meat settlers. march 2005, estimated 5,000 people lived in park, according united nations mission in liberia. although efforts undertaken remove illegal squatters, park not emptied until late august-early september 2005, , through participation of conservationists, liberian government, , united nations peacekeeping forces.

due remote location , near-complete absence of tangible amenities, such visitor housing or recreational facilities, there few visitors sapo national park. entry park prohibited without approval forestry development authority. no roads lead park, can reached on foot.

the park has no trails.