Wildlife and National Parks Act.

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 are 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, in order to protect the species and to provide facilities for recreational, educational and scientific purposes (Chap. III).
The Act provides the framework for the establishment ane 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. The FDA is required to undertake surveys of natural areas for potential NP and NR. Once an NP or NR is established, the FDA will mark the boundaries and compensate any owners of private land or property within the boundaries of the area. The Act contemplates the creation of buffer zones around each NP and NR by declaring these areas as a game reserve or controlled hunting area to protect the integrity of the park or the reserve. The FDA is required to prepare a comprehensive management plan for each NP and NR, which will guide the development of the area and must be updated every ten years. Entry into NP and NR is controlled and subject to a fee. Possession of a weapon is prohibited in NP and NR. All activities which would disturb the flora and fauna are likewise prohibited (Chap. IV).
The FDA may by regulation declare any area of land as: (i) Game Reserves where no hunting or any other disturbance would be allowed, so that the wildlife population can recover to a natural level and colonize the surrounding areas; (ii) Controlled Hunting Areas where special restrictions, such as limit on the number of animals killed, the kinds of animals killed, the season for hunting, etc would be imposed; and (iii) areas where hunting licenses are required (Chap. V).
Means of hunting are also regulated by the Act. The FDA is required to undertake surveys of wildlife, the results of which will provide information for issuing regulations. Dynamiting, poisoning, night hunting, among other dangerous forms of hunting, are prohibited. Hunting of pregnant and immature animals and animals accompanied by young is likewise banned. No hunting in controlled hunting areas or any other designated area is permitted other than under a valid hunting license (Chap. VI). The Act provides protection for wild animals in danger of extinction by creating a list of protected animals whcih may not be killed, sold or traded in Liberia. Animals may be added to or deleted from the list upon determination by the FDA that a species is threatened with extinction or is no longer so threatened. Within 6 months of entry into force of the Act, no person shall possess any protected animal or any part thereof (such as ivory or leopard skins) without a certificate of legal ownership issued by the FDA (Chap. VII). The Act recognizes Liberia's obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - which entered into force in Liberia in 1981.
It also gives Liberia's protected animals, some of which are not on the CITES appendices, the same protection in international trade (Chap. VIII). Finally the Act gives the officers enforcement powers (inspection and arrest) and the right to bear arms. It also provides a general penalty for any violations of the Act for which no penalty is specifically provided (Chap. IX). (60 sections and one Schedule)