The National Environmental Policy of Liberia; 
Environment Protection Agency Act of the Republic of Liberia; and Environment Protection and Management Law of the Republic of Liberia.

The final drafts of the three documents, which were prepared by NECOLIB under the auspices of UNDP Environment Project LIR/99/002, are being submitted to the President Charles Ghankay Taylor for submission to the Legislature of the Republic of Liberia for enactment. The following is a summary of the participatory process that produced these documents. But first, the significance of the three documents:

1.  The Environmental Policy provides:-

- the systematic and logical framework in which to address environmental issues; 

- benchmarks for addressing environmental problems in the medium to long-term;

- context for financial/donor support to particular sectors and non-sectors;

- the means for generating information and awareness on environmental problems; and

- demonstrates Liberia's commitment to sustainable management of the environment.

2. The Agency Act establishes:-

- an autonomous entity empowered to ensure that the environmental policies and laws are implemented; 

- a Policy Council to propose and update environmental policies as needed; and

- an institutional arrangement that supports the Agency in carrying out its functions

3. The Environmental Law provides:-

- the tools for protecting the environment;

- a framework for environmental standards for effective enforcement;

- sector-specific regulations;

- an integration of concepts of international environmental laws, such as sustainable development, into a national environmental protection and development framework.

Steps leading to final draft of the documents:

1. Conducting a National Environmental Policy workshop-April 4-6, 2000. Participants included a cross-section of stakeholders.

2. Drafting of the National Environmental Policy based on the result of the workshop.

3. Drafting of the Act and the Law:

a. A UNEP-recommended international legal consultant, with input from the Legal Department of NECOLIB, prepared the zero draft document based on the draft national policy document; review of available, relevant Liberian Sectoral laws; and international environmental conventions, treaties and protocols of which Liberia is already a party or is in the process of becoming a party;

b. A workshop for input to domesticate the zero draft was held. The invited participants included: representatives from the Office of the President, members of the Legislative Committees relevant to the environment, technical staff from the relevant Ministries and Agencies, NGO/CBOs and the private sector;
c. Circulation of first draft to selected members of the community, including the legal community, for input to reflect the environmental and legal realities of Liberia. Based on input from the legal community and the Executive branch of Government, the draft comprehensive environmental framework legislation was separated into two companion bills: one establishing the Environment Protection Agency, and the other formulating the Environment Protection and Management Law; 
d. The Second Draft received positive peer review from African environmental law practitioners and legal scholars through the Environmental Law Institute based in Washington D.C. with activities in Africa.

4. Conducting four two-day regional workshops held in July 2001 to sensitize stakeholders and to get local input on the Policy, Act and Law. Participants included members of the House of Representatives and Senate representing the region; County government officials, local traditional leaders, and NGO/CBOs. The documents had been circulated to them at least a week in advance. The workshops took place in the following cities for the indicated counties:

a. Gbanga (Bong, Lofa and Nimba)

b. Tubmanburg (Bomi, Cape Mount, Gpapolu, and Montserrado) 

c. Zwedru (Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Grand Kru, Sinoe and Maryland)

d. Buchanan (Grand Bassa, River Cess, and Margibi )

5. Conducting a National Workshop in Monrovia, July 18-20, 2001. The participants included relevant ministries/agencies of government, NGO/CBOs, academic institutions, the private sector, and two representatives from each county.

The recurrent issues raised at the workshops were:

1. Protection of theLiberian rainforests;

2. Land use planning;

3. Public participation in environment-related decision making;

4. Implementation of health and environment-related laws, rules and regulations;

5. Local involvement in environmental management;

6. Protection against pollution of all kinds; 

7. Environmental degradation caused by natural resource extraction; 

8. Respect for and integrating of traditional health and environmental values and practices in national policies;

9. Promoting complimentary medicine; and
10. Benefits to local communities from which natural resources are being extracted.

The final draft documents incorporated the views, concerns and group consensus from the regional and national workshops as well as from other interested parties who provided valuable comments. When these instruments are enacted by the Legislature and approved by the President of the Republic of Liberia, they will provide the most comprehensive and effective protection for the environment of Liberia.