\n<\/p>\n
Within Liberia\u2019s borders lies one of the last strongholds of intact forests in West Africa.<\/p>\n
But as Liberia\u2019s economy recovers<\/a> following years of civil war, experts fear<\/a>\u00a0that these forests \u2014 and other ecosystems across the country \u2014 could become victims of unsustainable oil palm development, urbanization and logging.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n To prevent this, the Liberian government must first know where its most valuable ecosystems are located, how much of them is left and what critical services they provide to people.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A groundbreaking effort is helping them achieve the first step in charting a course for a more sustainable future.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In partnership with Conservation International and NASA, the government of Liberia recently mapped the country\u2019s diverse ecosystems \u2014 from lush forests to coastal mangroves \u2014 and analyzed how they have changed over time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n These \u201cEcosystem Extent Maps\u201d will help the government quantify the economic benefits of Liberia\u2019s natural resources and the services they provide to people \u2014 the country\u2019s \u201cnatural capital<\/a>.\u201d They were created using remote-sensing data generated by NASA\u2019s fleet of Earth-observing satellites and field surveys from Conservation International scientists on the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The next step: For decision-makers to use these maps to promote the value of Liberia\u2019s natural capital when planning its long-term economic growth and development.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe maps enable the government to determine the true extent of Liberia\u2019s forests, mangroves and freshwater ecosystems, each of which provides the economy and communities with services essential for livelihoods and long-term economic resilience,\u201d said Daniel Juhn, vice president of Conservation International\u2019s Moore Center for Science.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Working with the Liberian government, Conservation International and NASA will continue to develop even more detailed maps of the country that account for the condition of its ecosystems and quantify the specific services they provide to people at community and regional levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The mapping initiative in Liberia \u2014 which serves as a model for similar, future projects in Gabon and Botswana \u2014 supports the goals of the Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa (GDSA)<\/a>, a commitment made by 18 African countries to invest in a new model of development that takes into account the economic value of the continent\u2019s natural resources.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWith this effort, the Liberian government is leading the way regionally in assessing nature\u2019s values, something that is needed to inform planning, sustainable development and conservation efforts in-country and across Africa,\u201d Juhn added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n To learn more about how the Liberian government will use these maps to protect the country\u2019s nature and<\/em> economy watch the video below.\u00a0<\/p>\n