Buchanan, Grand Bassa County | March 30, 2026

Marine pollution is an increasing threat to Liberia’s coastal communities – undermining food security, damaging ecosystems, and putting livelihoods at risk. In Buchanan, where many families depend on fishing, the impacts of poor waste management are already being felt.

To mark the International Day of Zero Waste 2026, under the global theme “Towards Zero Waste in Fashion and Textiles,” the Natural Resource Women Platform (NRWP), in partnership with the Grand Bassa Women Resource Rights Platform, mobilized coastal communities to take action.

At the heart of this commemoration was a simple but powerful message:

Protecting our environment starts with communities – and women are leading the way.

The Challenge: Pollution, Livelihoods, and Inequality Across coastal communities in Buchanan, residents are facing:

• Rising marine pollution due to improper waste disposal
• Declining fish stocks, threatening food security and incomes
• Lack of effective waste management systems
• Weak enforcement of environmental laws

Women are disproportionately affected. As primary caregivers, food providers, and active participants in fisheries, they bear the direct consequences of environmental degradation.

Community Action in Motion

The commemoration brought together women, youth, and community members from Big Fanti Town, Korkporwore, and Gbalawoleh in a series of impactful activities:

Community Cleanup Campaign

Women and young people led efforts to clean shorelines and public spaces, demonstrating the power of collective responsibility in protecting the environment.

Awareness March

Participants marched through their communities’ carrying messages such as:

• “Protect Our Ocean, Protect Our Food.”
• “Our Ocean Is Not a Dumping Ground.”
• “Polluted Water Kills Our Fish.”

The march raised awareness and sparked conversations on the urgent need to address waste pollution.

A Unified Call for Action

NRWP and its partners issued a joint statement calling on the Government of Liberia to take decisive steps to combat marine pollution, strengthen environmental protections, and recognize women as leaders in climate action.

What Changed? Key Outcomes

• Communities gained a deeper understanding of how pollution affects health and livelihoods
• Increased participation in cleanup and waste management efforts
• Stronger visibility of women as leaders in environmental governance
• Greater unity and collective voice for coastal advocacy

What Needs to Happen Next

While community action is essential, lasting change requires systemic support. NRWP calls on the Government of Liberia, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and partners to:

• Invest in waste management systems in coastal communities
• Enforce environmental laws to prevent pollution
• Support women-led environmental initiatives through funding and capacity-building
• Include communities in waste management planning and decision-making
• Promote sustainable livelihoods linked to fisheries, food security, and green
• opportunities

A Call to Act Now

The International Day of Zero Waste 2026 in Buchanan shows that communities are ready to lead. Women, in particular, are already driving solutions that protect the environment and sustain livelihoods.

But they cannot do it alone.

Achieving a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient Liberia requires urgent, coordinated A – from government, partners, and communities alike.

Our ocean is not a dumping ground. Our future depends on what we do today