OREANDA-NEWS. May 31, 2013. ArcelorMittal and the University of Oxford’s Department of Plant Sciences hosted a reception at the Oxford and Cambridge Club in London last night, to celebrate the publication of a research book: “Important plants of northern Nimba County, Liberia: a guide for the most useful, rare or ecologically important species, with Mano names and uses”.

The book was created, in partnership, as an illustrated guide for managers of plant resources inside ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Yekepa concession area in northern Nimba County. The book is key to safeguarding the remaining tropical forests of West Africa thanks to the support from ArcelorMittal Liberia.

John Howell, environmental advisor to ArcelorMittal Liberia, explained the significance of the project: “This is the first book of its kind. The team of local and international researchers worked together for nearly three years to create this unique look at flora in Liberia. It should prove to be an important research tool and is a significant botanical study for the region.” 

Bilingual book
The book features plant names in the local Mano language, conservation status, regional distribution, habitat preferences, images and ecology notes for 200 woody and non-woody priority plant species. The information published is based on a Rapid Botanic Survey (RBS) of the concession area, conducted between 2010 and 2012 as part of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment. More than 31,000 records were made across almost 250 RBS samples, which resulted in more than 1500 species being identified.

The researchers worked closely with local experts to bring to light the medicinal properties of many of the plants in the region. They felt it was important to balance the research from a scientific view point with that of the essential part the flora plays in the lives of the local population. The plants deemed ‘important’ by the local communities for their medicinal properties did not always match with the ‘important’ plants in terms of rarity or ecological importance, from the view point of the university researchers. A workshop was held welcoming local experts and working with them to identify the most ‘important’ plants for the local communities. From this, the authors were able to include the regional plant uses as well as their global conservation value.

Local team
Guests were welcomed at last night’s event by HE Ambassador Mr Wesley M. Johnson, the Liberian Ambassador to the UK. Attendees also heard from John Howell who highlighted the importance of working with a team of local Liberians who knew and understood the community and region. Dr. William Hawthorne, one of the book’s authors, who is world renowned for his work on biodiversity hotspots, spoke about how projects such as this are contributing to global knowledge of the flora in that region and allow an appropriate level of applied science to contribute to local development.  ArcelorMittal’s Kleber Silva, executive vice-president, iron ore operations, closed by emphasising the importance of such partnerships.

Representatives from the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia, the Pygmy Hippo Foundation, environmental consultants URS-Scott Wilson who worked with the team to manage production of the book, companies including BHP Billiton and Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank as well as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and a few journalists were present at the reception.

Further research
ArcelorMittal Liberia is working to produce a number of other field guides to the flora and fauna in the concession area, including guides to Nimba county’s grasses and snakes. A marine study is also being carried out close to the port of Buchanan, operated by ArcelorMittal Liberia.