By Paul Lamin
A three-day Gola Trans-boundary Landscape Technical Workshop aimed at strengthening environmental conservation and cross-border collaboration between Sierra Leone and Liberia has successfully taken place from 11th to 13th March 2026 at the Albertson Hall, Nyandeyama Road, Kenema.
The important workshop brought together government officials, environmental experts, forestry authorities, conservation partners, and other key stakeholders from both Sierra Leone and Liberia to deliberate on practical ways of enhancing the management and protection of the Greater Gola Trans-boundary Landscape, one of West Africa’s most significant forest ecosystems.
The workshop focused on deepening cooperation between the two neighboring countries in order to make the long-envisioned Gola Landscape Peace Park fully operational, while also strengthening collective action to preserve biodiversity, protect water sources, and combat deforestation across the shared forest region.
Dr. Mohamed Bakarr gives Historical Background of the Project Providing a comprehensive background to the initiative, Dr. Mohamed Bakarr, Global Environment Facility (GEF) Manager for the Integration and Knowledge Management Division, explained that the vision for the Gola Trans-boundary conservation project dates back to 2011, when the Presidents of Sierra Leone and Liberia agreed to establish what has become widely known as the “Peace Park” in the Gola forest landscape.
According to Dr. Bakarr, the landmark agreement was a bold and visionary step taken by both nations to jointly conserve the vast and ecologically rich forest area that stretches across their borders.
He noted that the Gola Trans-boundary Forest Landscape includes the Gola Rainforest National Park in Sierra Leone and the Gola Forest National Park in Liberia, both of which are globally recognized for their rich biodiversity, unique wildlife habitats, and critical role in climate regulation and watershed protection.
Dr. Bakarr further disclosed that the forest landscape in both countries has over the years benefited significantly from support under the Global Environment Facility (GEF), especially through projects geared toward improving governance of the Mano River watershed and addressing the growing threat of deforestation, particularly that caused by the expansion of commodity production and other human activities.
He emphasized that the workshop serves as a strategic platform to bring together key partners who are directly engaged in the design, management, and conservation of protected areas across the Gola Trans-boundary Landscape in both Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“This workshop is very important because it gathers all the relevant stakeholders and technical partners to reflect on where we are, what still needs to be done, and how we can move together in ensuring that the Gola Landscape Peace Park becomes fully functional and sustainable,” Dr. Bakarr stated.
Environment Minister Calls for Full Operationalization of the Peace Park
Speaking at the workshop, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Jiwoh Emmanuel Abdulai, underscored the importance of the gathering, stressing that the primary objective of the technical workshop is to identify the current needs and requirements necessary to make the Gola Landscape Peace Park fully operational.
Hon. Abdulai described the Gola forest ecosystem as a shared natural heritage whose protection requires commitment, coordination, and long-term investment from both countries and their development partners.
He said the workshop is not only timely, but also essential in advancing the broader goals of environmental sustainability, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and peaceful cooperation between Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The Minister further noted that the full operationalization of the Peace Park would strengthen cross-border conservation efforts, improve ecological monitoring, and create
