01/08/09, 01:44:12 UTC

  e-mail this article

Liberia: CI Wants Eco-Tourism Promoted

allafrica.com

Conservation International (CI), a non-governmental organization (ngo) working in Liberia since 2002, has developed a scheme to bring tourists into the country.

Mr. Russell A. Mittermeier, President of CI located in Virginia, United States who is on a week-long visit in to Liberia, has been discussing with top government officials on how the forest of the country can be conserved and be used to make profit for the country.

Speaking to the INQUIRER recently, Mr. Mittermeier said Liberia's Forest is in an area known as a "hotspots."

"These areas are hotspots because most of the animal species that live there can not be found anywhere in the world. This means it is the most important spot in the West African Region."

He said an eco-tourist can pay hundreds of United States Dollars to visit Liberia's natural wildlife and see first hand how these animals live in the wild.

The CI boss also touched on the newly passed forestry law that protects 30% of the country's forests, which adds up to about 1.5 million acres.

He cited Rwanda as a prime example due to the similarities between that country and Liberia.

Mr. Mittermeier said eco-tourists come from all over the world to visit Rwanda's Forest just to see the country's mountain gorillas which are protected by law; thus stopping hunters from killing them.

"Liberia, which has species of wildlife that can't be seen in other parts of the world, is a breeding ground for potential tourists who are willing to pay up to five hundred U.S Dollars to see these animals first hand," the CI Boss said.

The CI boss said he also talked to government officials about deforestation and how the country should try other means of profiting from the forest; because even re-planting is not enough.

For his part, the Country Director of CI, Mr. Alexander Peal said the entity is working with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) to develop programs aimed at upgrading the conservation of wildlife in the country.

 Printable Version  | published Aug 24, 2007