1.1. Project Summary:
The Wonegizi Proposed Protected Area, (37,906.5 hectares) is situated in Lofa County along Liberia?s borders with Guinea. It is amazing with biodiversity and provides ecological and socioeconomic services to surrounding communities. Despite its importance to ecosystem services, unsustainable exploitation of wildlife are primary causes of biodiversity degradation and losses of endanger animal?s species. VOSIEDA proposes to work with GEF/SGP to reverse the killing of endangered wildlife for bush meat through the development of inland valley fish farming as alternative protein sources.


1.2. Organizational Background and Capacity to Implement the Project:
The ?Volunteers to Support International Efforts in Developing Africa? is legally registered as a Liberian NGO since January 8th, 2003. Registration number MPA/NGO/ARC#: 0670. VOSIEDA?s mission is to challenge poverty by undertaking ecologically-sustainable development that results in equality and equal opportunities with strong sense of ownerships for all. Our programs include: 1) Forest and Environmental Protection 2) Livelihoods and Agro Enterprise 3) Rural Communities Development. We are located in Lofa with our central office in ELWA, Paynesville City. We have been funded by various organizations including the GEF/SGP, and UNDP.

1.3 Project Rationale, Justification, Objectives and Expected Results:
The Wonegizi Proposed Protected Area is situated in North Western Liberia, along the international frontier with the Republic of Guinea. It serves as home of an important trans-boundary West African elephant range and other flagship species of global significance. Unfortunately, majority of the local inhabitants living in villages around the Wonegizi are engaged in commercial bush meat hunting, which is posing serious threats to biodiversity. The project rationale is to train communities in improved construction and management techniques of inland valley fish ponds as alternative food and protein sources as well as employment and revenue generation sources. The specific results will be reduced over-harvesting of wildlife for bush meat and revenues.

1.4 Description of Project Activities:
The project main activities are:
1. Rehabilitate four inland valley fish ponds in the four closest communities of Zaikeda, Dunonor, Fassayeasue, and Barwien, around the Wonegizi;

2. Train communities in improved construction and management techniques of inland valley fish ponds as alternative food and protein sources as well as for employment and revenue generation;

3. Restock fish in each pond; set up and train management team for the maintenance of the ponds in each community;
4. Train the pond management teams how to find food from kitchen waste and other local sources for the fish;


5. Finally, train the pond management team in small business management and set small rural fish corporative.

Outcome A:
- Four valley aquaculture systems design and implemented with communities involvement in rehabilitation and up grading work.

Proposed Activities A:
- Launching of project activities in project communities;

- Visit and locate unfinished fish pond development in Zaikeda, Dunonor, Fassayeasue, and Barwien, Lofa County with the participation of the communities

- Rehabilitation and up grading of four fish ponds initiated

Outcome B:
- Fish pond restocked with fingerlings and management team trained to sustain the project after SGP grant.

Proposed Activities B:
- Restock each of the four fish ponds with fingerlings

- Provide training to fish feeding and harvesting, pond maintenance, and small business management

Outcome C:
- Killing of endanger wildlife in the Wonegizi reduced; poverty and hunger driving unsustainable exploitation of biodiversity around the corridor decreased.


- Conduct post project evaluation and submit final report