Coastal Highway — Environmental & Social Impact Assessment
ESIA & ESMP — Liberia Coastal Highway, Grand Cape Mount to Monrovia
Ministry of Public Works — Liberia
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Year
2016
Client
Ministry of Public Works, Liberia
Funding
European Union
Length
~180 km coastal corridor
Year
2018
Objectives & Context
The proposed Liberia Coastal Highway would link Monrovia to the Sierra Leone border through a 180 km route traversing some of the most ecologically sensitive areas in West Africa, including internationally significant mangrove forests, freshwater wetlands, coastal beach turtle nesting sites, and rural communities with high dependence on coastal natural resources. The EU financing requirements mandated a full ESIA compliant with both Liberian environmental law and EU Environmental Integration standards, capable of withstanding public scrutiny and potential legal challenge from environmental NGOs.
Our Approach & Solution
TSC Global led a multidisciplinary ESIA team combining road and drainage engineers, ecologists, marine biologists, social scientists, and community engagement specialists. The ecological survey programme was designed to capture both dry and wet season conditions, providing a robust baseline for impact prediction. Stakeholder engagement involved over 40 community consultations across the corridor and formal engagement with national and international conservation organisations. The ESMP designed by TSC Global included specific management protocols for mangrove habitat, sea turtle nesting beach protection during construction, and culturally appropriate livelihood restoration measures for fishing communities affected by temporary access restrictions.
Results & Impact
The ESIA successfully navigated a complex stakeholder environment and received environmental approval from Liberia's Environmental Protection Agency. The ESMP was adopted by the construction contractor as the binding environmental and social management framework, and implementation monitoring reports confirmed compliance with mitigation measures throughout the construction period. The project has been cited as a leading example of biodiversity-sensitive road infrastructure ESIA practice in West Africa.
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