Environment and Climate Reporting

New Narratives supports dozens of investigations into extractives industries and climate, land and water justice in West Africa each year. We shine a spotlight on the impacts on real people here on the frontlines of climate change. In Ghana our work has focused on the dramatic impacts of air pollution. In Liberia and Sierra Leone we have shone a spotlight on mining and oil industries as well as climate justice. We have highlighted the work of changemakers and supported the work of civil society organizations bringing transparency to these crucial sectors. See some of our work here. We thank our donors – the Clean Air Fund, American Jewish World Service, the Swedish and US embassies in Liberia, and German Development Cooperation – for supporting this work.

Buchanan Seaside Communities Beg for Rock Wall

BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa – Forty years ago Atlantic Street was one of this port city’s busiest streets, humming with stores and chop shops. Today it is almost deserted. The encroaching shoreline has swallowed up structures and is threatening to take out the street itself. Bobby Gibson’s father used to run a popular store known as Gibson…

Eric Opa Doue
Front Page Africa

Buchanan Seaside Communities Beg For Rock Wall To Protect Them for the sea

Coastal erosion caused by climate-induced rises in sea levels and intense tropical storms have already destroyed the homes of hundreds of Liberian families and put critical fisheries at risk. Nine of the country’s fifteen counties sit along the sea coast putting 60 per cent of the population at threat and causing tens of millions of…

Eric Opa Doue
ELBC

This Gas Station Violates the EPA’s Wetland Protection Policy. Why Won’t the Agency Shut it Down?

MONROVIA-It has been four years since a gas station and minimart owned by George Kailondo, the businessman and politician with the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change political party, were constructed on SKD Boulevard in Paynesville. The building, constructed on wetlands protected by the Liberian government under an international agreement to help save an important and…

Joyclyn Wea
New Republic

Farmers Say Food Crisis is Looming from Climate Change

SINYEA, Bong County – After two years of poor harvests the Sumo family was nervous this year. Rain had been unpredictable. The sun felt hotter. The soil on their five-hectare plot here was dry. They planted bitter ball, pumpkin, pepper, corn, okra and rice and followed the rules they had followed their whole lives as subsistence…

Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh
Front PageAfrica

New Narratives and Okay FM discuss NN’s investigation on the Kailando gas station built on wetlands and forestry disputes

Join OkFM host and New Narratives Fellow Varney Dukuly as he discusses forestry and wetlands challenges in Liberia with Bonathan Walaka, Secretary General of the National Union of Community Forest Bodies and former Mines Minister Eugene Shanonn plus New Narratives’ Anthony Stephens and Mae Azango. This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of our…

Varney Dukuly
OKay FM

Radio: Is Climate Change the Biggest Crisis Facing Liberia?

The changing climate is grabbing headlines across the globe. Bushfires in California and Australia, floods in Asia, heatwaves in Europe.The same forces are ravaging Africa – including Liberia – threatening food security and collapse of our agriculture industry and the displacement of millions of people as sea levels rise. After the global COP 26 Climate…

Dennisse Nimpson
JoyFM

Experts Say Poor Enforcement of Forestry Laws Paralyzes Forestry Industry

Across Liberia forestry operations are at a standstill as logging companies and small scale loggers square off over their right to operate.At the heart of the problem is poor implementation of regulations governing the industry. The logging companies are licensed by the national authorities, but local authorities are issuing permits to small scale loggers.Eric Opa…

Eric Opa Doue
ELBC

 Forestry Industry Paralysed by Poor Regulation

NEEZWEIN, River Cess — A power struggle is playing out here deep in the forest and the stakes for the local people are high. Logging companies with concession agreements that include thousands of dollars of benefits for local communities say their work is being hamstrung by informal loggers who disrupt their operations. Informal loggers say they…

Eric Opa Doue
Front PageAfrica

Radio: Barconnie and Harmonville Community Forest Struggles with Conservation

When the Forest Reform law was passed in 2006, Liberia’s 51 community forests were offered a chance to conserve or commercialize their forests in logging and other deals with companies.44 chose the money. But conservation groups persuaded seven to pursue conservation – protecting their forest resources and promoting biodiversity.It’s not been an easy road. Varney…

Varney Dukuly
Ok FM

Conserving With Pride, Living With Scarcity

(Last Updated On: January 6, 2022) PHOTO: Harmonville Village credit: William Selmah                              By William Selmah,[email protected] with New Narratives Barconnie and Harmonville Community Forest, Grand Bassa County – Powerful forces push the people of the 21 towns that make up this community forest area to abandon their efforts at conservation every day. Big money offered by foreign and local…

William Selmah
News Public Trust

Monrovia and Paynesville are Drowning in Plastic; One Company Tries to Help

MONROVIA – Waste plastic is becoming a scourge around the world but it is especially true here in Liberia’s capital city and its satellite sister, Paynesville. Discarded plastic is choking waterways, blocking drains, killing fish, and leaching harmful chemicals into the water and soil. By Tina S. Mehnpaine, with New Narratives With poor or limited waste management…

Tina Mehnpaine
Front PageAfrica

Radio: Liberia Drowning in Plastic Pollution

This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of its Land Rights and Climate Reporting project. Funding was provided by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office and the American Jewish World Service….

Forgbe Kloh
Okay FM

Radio: Liberia’s Fragile Wetlands are in Crisis

Across the world people are experiencing different impacts from rising global temperatures. Governments are racing to protect natural environments that will help stop the worst changes.But with Liberia’s fast growing population, more and more people are moving to coastal cities, especially Monrovia, looking for means of survival.That is putting a pressure on one of Liberia’s…

Varney Dukuly
Okay FM

New Farming Approach is Luring Farmers Out of the Forest

As the changing climate impacts more and more people worldwide, there are renewed efforts to protect the planet’s forests. Trees soak up the carbon that is the worst factor in causing climate change. Liberia’s forest is one of the largest remaining. But millions of Liberians rely on the forest’s bounty for their survival. As the…

Forgbe Kloh
Deforestation Bong

Buchanan Seaside Communities Beg for Rock Wall

BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa – Forty years ago Atlantic Street was one of this port city’s busiest streets, humming with stores and chop shops. Today it is almost deserted. The encroaching shoreline has swallowed up structures and is threatening to take out the street itself. Bobby Gibson’s father used to run a popular store known as Gibson…

Eric Opa Doue
Front PageAfrica

Omega Land Crisis: Evicted Residents Mount Pressure for Resettlement

For 16 years Augustus Sibley has been proud of the small lot he managed to buy here in 2006 in the Paynesville area on the outskirts of Monrovia, and the three-bedroom house he built for himself and his family. But today the plot is a source of pain for the 62-year-old who says the government…


Nimba Clans Square Off Over Customary Land Title Claims

TAPPITA DISTRICT, Nimba County – This disarmingly peaceful forest area in Liberia’s far north Tappita District has been the scene of conflict of one form or another for decades. But since 2014 it had enjoyed some peace as two clans here, supported by a US-backed project known by the acronym PROSPER, agreed on a boundary line…

Gerald Koinyeke
Front PageAfrica

 Women Farmers Made Destitute by Pandemic

MONROVIA – Weatta Gbelly has seen hardship in her 35 years but nothing prepared her for the Covid-19 pandemic. Ms. Gbelly has never had the virus, neither does she know anyone who has, but she has suffered just the same. By Mae Azango, Senior Land Rights Correspondent with New Narratives Ms. Gbelly is a mother of…

Naomi Kennedy
Front PageAfrica