New National Park for Chimpanzees and Pygmy Hippos in Liberia
Support More Work Like ThisSupport More Work Like ThisRare species are on the verge of local extinction due to hunting for the commercial bushmeat trade in Liberia.
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Species at Risk
Western Chimpanzee (CR), African Forest Elephant (CR), Slender-snouted Crocodile (CR), Pygmy Hippopotamus (EN)
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Carbon stored
120,510,366 mT*
*(metric tons of CO2 equivalents) -
Partner
The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
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550,000 Proposed Acres Conserved by
Designation
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Project Cost: $3,326,982
550,000
Rare species are on the verge of local extinction due to hunting for the commercial bushmeat trade in Liberia.
-
Species at Risk
Western Chimpanzee (CR), African Forest Elephant (CR), Slender-snouted Crocodile (CR), Pygmy Hippopotamus (EN)
-
Carbon stored
120,510,366 mT*
*(metric tons of CO2 equivalents) -
Partner
The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
-
550,000 Proposed Acres Conserved by
Designation
-
Project Cost: £2,501,490
550,000
A hotspot within the Upper Guinean Forest, the Kwa National Park is a shelter for the survival of vulnerable wildlife, including the Western Chimpanzee (CR), Pygmy Hippopotamus (EN) and Slender-snouted Crocodile (CR), and many signs indicate this area is also important for the African Forest Elephant (CR).
Hunting for the commercial bushmeat trade threatens these species, putting them in grave danger of local extinction. Forest Elephants are targeted for both ivory and bushmeat, Western Chimpanzee infants are frequently captured and illegally sold as pets, and pangolins are hunted for the cross-border trade of their scales to Guinea, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast.
Rainforest Trust and our partner, The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation, seek to create the 550,000-acre Kwa National Park as a fully designated and sustainably managed national park.
Header photo: The Endangered Pygmy Hippo
Discover Liberia
Chimpanzees, by Gerdie Hutomo
The African Forest Elephant (CR). Elephant tusks are a prize in the ivory trade.
The Critically Endangered Slender-snouted Crocodile, courtesy of CEM
The Endangered Pygmy Hippopotamus, by Mikhail Semenov
An Endangered Pygmy Hippopotamus with baby, by Anan Kaewkhammul
The Pygmy Hippo, by Tristan Tan
Endangered male and female Western Red Colobus Monkeys, by Dave Montreuil
The Endangered Giant Ground Pangolin, by Maggy Meyer
THIS PROJECT WILL STORE THE EQUIVALENT CO2 EMISSIONS FROM
gas-powered vehicles driven for one year.
Store Carbon and Protect Old-Growth Forests in Liberia
Approximately 90% of the Kwa National Park consists of undisturbed, old-growth and primary forest. With the absence of legal protection for this area, increased habitat destruction and degradation from logging companies and gold mining interests in the surrounding area will lead to significant biodiversity loss and increased exploitation of wildlife.
We must urgently secure this habitat for resident chimpanzees, hippos and elephants as well as for other unique species like Jentink’s Duiker (EN), Western Red Colobus (EN), Giant Ground Pangolin (EN) and Liberian Mongoose (VU). Safeguarding these acres will lock up 120,510,366 mT CO₂ equivalents, comparable to the greenhouse gas emissions from 25,966,276 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year.
Create a New National Park for Lasting Impact
Creating the Kwa National Park will safeguard its natural resources from encroachment, logging, mining, poaching and other illegal activities.
The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation is deeply committed to ensuring the full involvement of local community members in all stages of this process. Community representatives will be active members of the protected area management team by drafting and implementing plans. They will also participate in the protection of Kwa National Park as part of the community ecoguard program that monitors wildlife and human activities and helps prevent illegal exploitation.
We Value Transparency.
Conservation work is critical, challenging, and can be costly. We work hard to ensure we raise only the funds needed for each project. In the rare case we raise more money than needed or a project comes in under budget, excess monies will be transferred to the Conservation Action Fund. This fund supports our important conservation work throughout the tropics.
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Save a Vast Wilderness for Lions, Chimpanzees and Elephants
Partnering to Save Rainforest
Our partners’ ability to work with their governments and build strong connections with local communities ensures the successful implementation of our projects.
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