The overall essence of this project is to ensure Biodiversity is protected and maintained within the Nimba Natural Reserve (ENNR), through the building of capacity and creating awareness in six (6) rural communities with farming groups where the environment is seriously been threatened. This intervention seeks to engage farming groups with a membership of at least 25 persons per group within each project community.
The communities to benefit under this project are:

A. Sanniquellie Mah District
Boapea, Gehweee, and Sheyikimpa

B. Gbehlay-Geh District
Zorgowee, Kialay, and Goagortuo,

The program will assist the selected community dwellers to work towards an improved model of joint Forest Management which will eventually ensure that there is better quality, more Bio-diverse Forest in the long term, and that production areas are sustainable.

The traditional extensive and damaging system of slash and burn or shifting cultivation will be enhanced through the introduction of low Technology (Conservation Agriculture, sustainable farming, animal raising and Agro Forestry) improvement. These will guarantee food security with keen focus on food and cash crops.
Medium improvement in Livelihoods will be developed that reduce community people?s dependence on Forest Resources through cash food crops and tree crops. Livestock production will be included in subsequent long-term phases. Coordination and collaboration will be encouraged with key stakeholders such as FDA, Arcelor -Mittal Biodiversity Program, community Forest Management Board, Chief and Elders and all those that play key role in protecting and managing the ENNR.
This intervention will be in collaboration with key local leaders (District Commissioners, Paramount, Clan, Town Chiefs and Elders selects representative communities (3 farming groups in the Gbehlay-Geh district and 3 farming groups in Sanniquellie Mah District) with the view of creating and giving strong awareness messages, testing/trying available but appropriate technologies aimed at eliminating or reducing forest destruction and curtailing people?s dependence on forest resources by encouraging stabilization of farming through improved Agriculture Techniques and diversification of other Livelihood activities.
1.2 Organizational Background and Capacity to implement the project
The Agriculture Relief Services (ARS) Inc. was established as a Local NGO in Nimba County, Liberia in 1995. ARS is Registered and Accredited with relevant Government Ministries/Agencies including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Development Planning and Agriculture. It has its Headquarters in Sanniquellie, Nimba County and a Liaison Office in Monrovia. The Mission of ARS is to improve the Living Standard of Rural Dwellers through improved and appropriate agricultural and other rural developmental initiatives in Liberia, while the Vision is to ensure that rural communities have adequately food secured with sustainable income levels. ARS has implemented several food production and environmental programs over the last twenty years plus and so has the requisite Technical, Administrative and Logistical capacity to successfully implement this project. ARS has received several grants in the last ten years as outlined below;