Monrovia – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has opened the 8th Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Licensure Training at the Corina Hotel and Conference Center, focusing on enhancing environmental sustainability and social equity in development projects.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, March 3, 2025, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo underscored the importance of the ESIA process in ensuring that development initiatives align with environmental protection standards. He emphasized that the EPA, under the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia, is responsible for training and accrediting environmental professionals who assess the impact of projects on natural resources and local communities.
“The process of ESIA is scientific and complex. Without proper training, developers are unable to conduct these studies. This is a gap that you have been trained and will be trained to fill,” Dr. Yarkpawolo told the participants.
He revealed that the EPA has already accredited 19 nationally recognized Environmental Consultancy Firms and remains committed to expanding training programs to improve the quality of impact assessments. He stressed the need for environmental professionals to maintain integrity, transparency, and accountability, as their work directly informs the agency’s decisions on environmental policies and project approvals.
The training also seeks to strengthen the Union of Certified Environmental Professionals of Liberia (UCEL), a body representing certified environmental experts. Dr. Yarkpawolo assured participants that the EPA will continue supporting UCEL to uphold professional standards and enhance the competitiveness of Liberian environmental experts both nationally and internationally.
Highlighting the government’s Liberianization policy, Dr. Yarkpawolo noted that the EPA requires developers seeking environmental permits to work with one of the 19 accredited Liberian-owned firms. He expressed optimism that the training would establish a standardized reporting framework and enhance the technical skills of environmental professionals to conduct thorough assessments and mitigate potential environmental impacts.
The event was attended by Deputy EPA Executive Director Dweh S. Boley, UCEL members, government officials, and other environmental stakeholders.
