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By Aaron Geezay
Cestos City, Rivercess County – Rising sea levels linked to climate change are eroding the shores of Rivercess County, destroying coconut trees and threatening the livelihood of hundreds of residents who depend on coconut oil production for survival.
Inhabitants of coastal communities, particularly in south-eastern Liberia, say the steady advance of the ocean has washed away large portions of farmland and uprooted dozens of coconut trees, which form the backbone of local household income. Coconut oil production is a traditional economic activity in the region, providing both food security and cash for school fees, health care, and other basic needs.
“We used to harvest more than 20 bags of coconuts every season, but now the sea erosion is destroying the trees,” said Mary Toe, a coconut oil producer in Cestos. “Without coconuts, I cannot produce oil, and that means I cannot pay my children’s school fees.”
Environmental experts attribute the destruction to the effects of climate change, which has accelerated sea erosion along Liberia’s coastline. Liberia is among the most vulnerable to rising sea levels due to its low-lying coastal settlements and limited infrastructure to withstand the impact.
“This is not just an environmental issue, but an economic crisis. Every coconut tree lost to the sea is a family’s income lost. These communities rely heavily on coconut oil for trade, and the destruction of their source means increasing poverty and food insecurity,” Jonathan Steward, executive director of Agro-Tech Liberia, emphasized
In response to the growing climate crisis along Liberia’s coastline, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), recently completed the establishment of Technical Working Groups (TWGs) across the country’s nine coastal counties.
The initiative falls under the “Enhancing Resilience of Vulnerable Coastal Communities in Sinoe County of Liberia (ERVCCS)” project and is designed to reduce climate-related risks through localized, participatory approaches.
According to the EPA, the technical working groups will serve as multi-sectoral platforms to coordinate responses to the impacts of climate change. Their key functions include disseminating climate information, aligning risk management strategies, and implementing locally appropriate adaptation measures.
Liberia’s coastal communities, from Grand Cape Mount to Maryland, face increasing threats from sea erosion, saltwater intrusion, and flooding, all linked to rising sea levels. These changes have already devastated coconut production, destroyed farmlands, and displaced households. Analysts warn that without urgent interventions, the effects could worsen poverty and food insecurity across the country.
The crisis in Rivercess reflects broader challenges across Liberia’s coastal belt, where coconut production, fishing, and small-scale farming face mounting threats from climate-driven environmental changes. For many in the south-east, the loss of coconut trees is not just about land and crops, but a direct assault on their cultural identity and way of life.
