Editing Liberia (section)

=== Climate ===
{{See also|Climate change in Liberia}}
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map LBR present.svg|thumb|Liberia map of Köppen climate classification.]]
The equatorial climate, in the south of the country, is hot year-round with heavy rainfall from May to October with a short interlude in mid-July to August.<ref name="eowg"/> During the winter months of November to March, dry dust-laden [[harmattan]] winds blow inland, causing many problems for residents.<ref name="eowg"/> Climate change in Liberia causes many problems as Liberia is particularly [[Climate change vulnerability|vulnerable to climate change]]. Like many [[Climate change in Africa|other countries in Africa]], Liberia both faces existing [[Environmental issues in Liberia|environmental issues]], as well as [[sustainable development]] challenges.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Building effective climate governance in Liberia – Liberia|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/liberia/building-effective-climate-governance-liberia|website=ReliefWeb|date=March 8, 2018|language=en|access-date=2020-05-21|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803074644/https://reliefweb.int/report/liberia/building-effective-climate-governance-liberia|url-status=live}}</ref> Because of its location in Africa, it is vulnerable to [[extreme weather]], the coastal effects of [[sea level rise]], and changing water systems and water availability.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Climate Risk Profile: Liberia|url=https://www.climatelinks.org/resources/climate-change-risk-profile-liberia|website=Climatelinks|date=February 28, 2017|language=en|access-date=2020-05-21|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803145708/https://www.climatelinks.org/resources/climate-change-risk-profile-liberia|url-status=live}}</ref> Climate change is expected to severely impact the [[economy of Liberia]], especially agriculture, fisheries, and forestry. Liberia has been an active participant in international and local policy changes related to climate change.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Blackmore|first=R.D.|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1084383140|title=Lorna Doone|publisher=Ryerson Press|isbn=0665265034|oclc=1084383140}}</ref>

Rubber production, along with Liberia’s large-scale production of palm-oil, has impacted the Country’s climate. Clearing tropical forest to create farmland has led to a loss of biodiversity and the release of large amounts of greenhouse gases. Despite this, fertilizer use has been the main contributor to the carbon footprint of latex, which is a crucial ingredient in rubber production. According to the president of the Rubber Planters Association of Liberia, Wilhelmina G. Mulbah, high prices and lack of availability of fertilizers have led to almost no fertilizer use among small farmers. Because of this, much of the carbon footprint of latex due to fertilizer use can be contributed to rubber plantations. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the expanse of rubber production into forestland could lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation and fertilizer use.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Antonanzas |first=J. |last2=Quinn |first2=J. C. |date=2024-05-12 |title=Carbon footprint assessment of natural rubber derived from Liberian hevea trees |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-024-05678-6 |journal=International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=667–678 |doi=10.1007/s13762-024-05678-6 |issn=1735-1472}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=van Straaten |first=Oliver |last2=Corre |first2=Marife D. |last3=Wolf |first3=Katrin |last4=Tchienkoua |first4=Martin |last5=Cuellar |first5=Eloy |last6=Matthews |first6=Robin B. |last7=Veldkamp |first7=Edzo |date=2015-08-11 |title=Conversion of lowland tropical forests to tree cash crop plantations loses up to one-half of stored soil organic carbon |url=https://pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1504628112 |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |language=en |volume=112 |issue=32 |pages=9956–9960 |doi=10.1073/pnas.1504628112 |issn=0027-8424|pmc=4538652 }}</ref>

Palm oil production also has impacts on the Liberian climate. Industrial oil palm plantations reduce the amount of land available to surrounding communities for sustenance agriculture. Deforestation has led to a decrease in the availability of bushmeat, impacting household diets and affecting incomes of families who sell bushmeat. Changes in water resource use have decreased water availability for local households and communities, specifically those located near palm oil plantations.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last=Marshall |first=Cicely A. M. |last2=Guahn |first2=Marshall M. |last3=Jones |first3=Tiecanna |last4=Jah |first4=Morris T. |last5=Hadfield |first5=Peter M. |last6=Saputra |first6=Ari |last7=Widodo |first7=Rudy |last8=Freeman |first8=Benedictus |last9=Draper |first9=William |last10=Caliman |first10=Jean‐Pierre |last11=Turner |first11=Edgar C. |last12=Pashkevich |first12=Michael D. |date=2024-12-16 |title=Plant biodiversity, vegetation structure and provisioning services in rainforest, traditional and industrial oil palm cultivation systems in Liberia, West Africa |url=https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ppp3.10621 |journal=PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET |language=en |doi=10.1002/ppp3.10621 |issn=2572-2611|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Liberia’s mining industry has also been linked to changes in the Liberian environment and climate.&nbsp; The mining industry and water resources are critically linked, as mining uses substantial amounts of water, and the industry also has major impacts on surface and ground water resources. With renewed interest in Liberia’s mining sector after the end of their second civil war, there was a reopening of major mines such as the Nimba iron mine. These actions have raised concern over their potential impacts on water quality, human health, and ecosystem health due to waste rocks, water use, and increased sediment load due to high erosion potential of soil. This erosion and runoff have raised further concerns about the discharge of toxic substances, such as cyanides and heavy metals including acid mine drainage (AMD) that can cause long term impairment to watercourses and biodiversity.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Wilson |first=Samuel T. K. |last2=Wang |first2=Hongtao |last3=Kabenge |first3=Martin |last4=Qi |first4=Xuejiao |date=August 2017 |title=The mining sector of Liberia: current practices and environmental challenges |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11356-017-9647-4 |journal=Environmental Science and Pollution Research |language=en |volume=24 |issue=23 |pages=18711–18720 |doi=10.1007/s11356-017-9647-4 |issn=0944-1344}}</ref>

Communities in Liberia have experienced a significant reduction in forest reserves and access to water since oil palm operations began. This has negatively impacted access to foods such as bushmeat and native plants. The Malaysian corporation, Sime Darby, was fined by the Liberian Environmental Protection Agency for deforestation near rivers, which has impacted food and water access for locals. Rubber production has caused similar land use and food access challenges for local communities. Liberia’s mining sector has similarly inhibited access to water and arable farmland.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Balachandran |first=L |last2=Herb |first2=E |last3=Timirzi |first3=S |last4=O’Reilly |first4=E |date=October 2012 |title=Everyone must eat? Liberia, food security and palm oil |journal=International Conference on Global Land Grabbing II, Ithaca, NY |pages=17-19}}</ref>