East Nimba Nature Reserve
Liberia’s Biodiversity Stronghold
The East Nimba Nature Reserve is one of Liberia’s most ecologically significant protected areas and a globally important biodiversity hotspot. Located within the Nimba Mountain range, ENNR protects a unique mosaic of mountain forest and lowland rainforest ecosystems that support exceptional biodiversity, climate resilience, and community livelihoods.
For the Liberia Conservation Fund, ENNR represents a proof of concept for long term conservation finance. It demonstrates how stable, well governed financing can sustain protected areas beyond short term project cycles.
Why East Nimba Matters
Our vision is to create a fully-endowed national financing system that ensures the protection of Liberia's globally significant biodiversity and supports the well-being of communities that depend on it.
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Protecting endemic and endangered species
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Maintaining water systems and climate regulation
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Supporting forest dependent communities
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Advancing Liberia’s national and global biodiversity commitments
East Nimba Nature Reserve at a Glance
Location
Northeastern Liberia, within the Nimba Mountain range and part of the transboundary Nimba Massif shared with Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire.
Protected Area Size
≈ 11,553 hectares
Conservation Status
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National protected area established in 2013
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Managed in coordination with the Forestry Development Authority
Biodiversity of Global Importance
The East Nimba Nature Reserve is home to species found nowhere else on Earth and provides habitat for wildlife of global conservation concern.
Notable species include:
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Nimba Toad and Nimba Otter Shrew (endemic species)
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Chimpanzees and African elephants
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Yellow-casqued Hornbill, Nimba Flycatcher, and other rare birds
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African Giant Swallowtail, the world’s largest butterfly
Protecting ENNR safeguards irreplaceable biodiversity while maintaining ecosystem services essential to surrounding communities.
Financial Snapshot
$1M Seed
$7M Target
$1.8M Current Capital
LCF Milestone
First LCF grant issued in 2025. Restored patrols and biomonitoring. Re-established community engagement. Stabilized operations following funding interruptions
ENNR is the first protected area in Liberia supported by a permanent endowment structure.
The Conservation Challenge
Despite its global significance, ENNR has faced persistent challenges:
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Interruptions in conservation funding
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Poaching, encroachment, and unregulated extraction
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Wildfire risk intensified by climate related shocks
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Reduced community engagement during funding gaps
In early 2025, the reserve experienced a major wildfire following the suspension of conservation activities, highlighting the risks associated with short term and project based financing.
The East Nimba Nature Reserve Endowment
ENNR is the first protected area in Liberia supported by a permanent endowment structure.
How the Endowment Works
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Seeded with an initial USD 1 million investment
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Invested to preserve principal while generating annual returns
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Designed to provide predictable, long term financing for conservation
Since its establishment, the endowment has grown at approximately 8% annually, increasing from $1 million to approximately USD $1.9 million. As the endowment continues to grow, annual disbursements will scale to meet the full financing needs of the reserve.
What the Funding Supports
Annual financing from the endowment and complementary grants supports:
Law enforcement and biomonitoring patrols
Boundary demarcation and maintenance
Community outreach and conservation awareness
Employment of community frontline conservationists
Oversight and coordination with the Forestry Development Authority
These investments ensure ENNR remains protected, monitored, and managed year after year.
LCF’s First Grant to ENNR
In 2025, the Liberia Conservation Fund issued its first operational grant to ENNR, marking a milestone in Liberia’s conservation finance system.
The grant restored essential conservation activities after a period of disruption and demonstrated how LCF can act as a financial stabilizer during periods of heightened risk.The ENNR is LCF's proof of concept. The endowment model demonstrates how Liberia can transition from fragile, project-based conservation funding to a national system of durable, well-governed conservation finance. LCF is working to expand this approach to additional protected areas across the country.
Turning conservation capital into conservation outcomes
First Grant Distributed: $119,000
Law Enforcement: Patrols & Protection
Science: Biomonitoring of endangered & endemic species
Community: Outreach, co-creation & livelihoods
Maintenance: Boundary line clearing & forest restoration
