Wildlife and National Parks Act.

An Act adopting a new Wildlife and National Parks and repealing Chapters 1, 2, 3 and subchapters A and C of Chapter 4 Title 24 of the Natural Resources Law, volume 5 of the Liberian Code of Laws 1956, relating to the conservation of forests, forest reserves, conservation of wildlife and fish resources and national parks.

The primary objective of this Act is to ensure conservation and development of wildlife by controlling hunting and preserving habitat. The Act is composed of nine Chapters dealing with: (i) Definitions; (ii) Policies and Objectives; (iii) Administration; (iv) National Parks and Nature Reserves; (v) Game Reserves, Controlled Hunting Areas, and Other Protected Areas; (vi) Controls on Hunting; (vii) Protected Animals; (viii) International Trade in Protected Animals and Endangered Species; (ix) Enforcement.

As a preliminary matter, it is determined that wildlife is the property of the nation, and that wildlife and natural areas are an important wealth and heritage of the Republic. The Act also states that wildlife are an important source of revenue, protein, and employment for the people. The secondary and tertiary objectives of the Act are to protect species in danger of extinction and to preserve outstanding areas of scenic beauty and scientific interest in national parks and nature reserves. Finally, the Act has as an objective the education of people about the value of wildlife (chapter II). The Forestry Development Authority (FDA) is responsible for the management and administration of wildlife, national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas, as well as for the implementation of the Act, to protect the species and to provide facilities for recreational, educational, and scientific purposes (Chap. III).

The Act provides the framework for the establishment and management of national parks (NP) and nature reserves (NR). The only difference between the two areas is that NP are areas large enough to meet international standards and NR are too small to meet these standards but still deserve protection. To ensure their permanent character, NP and NR may be created or abolished only by legislative enactment.