Liberia: ArcelorMittal Liberia has taken a significant step toward strengthening environmental protection in Liberia by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and the Co-Management Committee of the East Nimba Nature Reserve (CMC-ENNR). The agreement aims to support the conservation and sustainable management of the East Nimba Nature Reserve (ENNR), one of Liberia’s most important biodiversity hotspots.
The MoU was signed during a formal ceremony held at the FDA office in Paynesville and forms part of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BCP). The programme was established to operationalize the company’s environmental and biodiversity commitments under its Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with the Government of Liberia.
Under the partnership, ArcelorMittal Liberia will provide targeted financial and technical support to enhance protected area management within ENNR. The support will focus on strengthening law enforcement, improving biodiversity monitoring, and deepening community engagement to ensure long-term conservation outcomes.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michiel Van Der Merwe, praised the FDA and the Co-Management Committee for their ongoing efforts to protect Liberia’s natural environment. He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote environmental stewardship alongside responsible mining operations.
“We appreciate the great work that the FDA is doing and reaffirm our support,” Mr. Van Der Merwe said. “These initiatives align with our core values and what we want to see and do in the country. As we expand our operations, we want to make sure that we don’t leave the place as we found it, but leave it much better. That is our strategy.”
Also speaking at the event, FDA Managing Director Mr. Rudolph J. Merab Sr. welcomed the partnership, describing it as a timely and strategic collaboration that will significantly enhance conservation efforts in the East Nimba Nature Reserve. He emphasized that the MoU reflects a shared responsibility between government institutions and the private sector to protect Liberia’s rich biodiversity while supporting sustainable development.
The East Nimba Nature Reserve is a nationally designated protected area and a critical component of the wider Mount Nimba biodiversity landscape. Home to unique ecosystems and rare species, ENNR plays a vital role in Liberia’s natural heritage.
The partnership between ArcelorMittal Liberia, the FDA, and the CMC-ENNR reinforces a shared commitment to safeguarding this heritage, ensuring that responsible resource development goes hand in hand with long-term environmental protection for present and future generations.
