Gbarpolu County

Gbarpolu County
County

Flag

Location in Liberia
Coordinates: 7°10′N 10°25′W / 7.167°N 10.417°W / 7.167; -10.417
Country  Liberia
Capital Bopulu
Districts 6
Established 2001
Government
 • Superintendent Allen Gbowee
Area
 • Total 9,689 km2 (3,741 sq mi)
Population (2008)
 • Total 83,758
 • Density 8.6/km2 (22/sq mi)
Time zone GMT (UTC+0)

Gbarpolu is a county in the northern portion of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has six districts. Bopulu serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring 9,689 square kilometres (3,741 sq mi).[1] As of the 2008 Census, it had a population of 83,758, making it the eleventh-most populous county in Liberia.[1]

Created in 2001 when it was split from Lofa County, Gbarpolu is the youngest county in Liberia. As of 2013, the County Superintendent was Allen Gbowee.[2]

The county is bordered by Grand Cape Mount County to the west, Bomi County to the southwest, Bong County to the south, and Lofa County to the east and north. The northwest part of Gbarpolu borders the nation of Sierra Leone. The Gola Forest staddles this border and is home to the Gola Forest community.

The majority of Gbarpolu County consists of forest. Mining was the primary economic activity prior to the Liberian Civil War, in addition to subsistence farming. However, the war devastated all sectors of the county.

Gbarpolu County has several gold and diamond mines. Most of the mines are governed by traditions, stating that investors who intend to partner with Gbarpolu County will follow traditional terms by showing desire to the community ruler of their interest in going into partnership with the community. Such traditions normally involve several items being bought by the investor or partners..

Gbarpolu County also produces timber and coal.

Districts

The districts of Gbarpolu County, with their 2008 populations,include: [1]

Gola Forest community

The Gola Forest straddles the border between Liberia and Sierra Leone and is home to diverse species of importance to the country. In Sierra Leone, the forest is incorporated into the Gola National Forest, and because of the unity of the forest with Liberia, considerations of conservation must consider a collaborative management with Liberian inhabitants as well.

Within the Liberian portion of the forest reside four clans: the Sorkpo Clan in Porkpa District, the Tonglay and Zuie clans within Kongba district and the Jawijah Chiefdom. There are 24 villages within the Liberian portion of the forest, most of which are accessible by road, but several accessible only by foot path. Residents of these remote villages use foot paths to bring their commodities and services to the other towns with motor roads.

Leadership within the community is purely by traditional authorities, but centers of such authority are very few in relation to the number of temporary mining camps. The landlord-stranger system is the main means to regulate activities of migrants to the forest (mainly miners), but the system is currently weak due to town being distance and limited roads, transportation and communications. Some chiefs are not correctly installed or properly elected and therefore lack authority amongst disgruntled illegal miners.

Most of the original Gola inhabitants became refugees during the First Liberian Civil War and were slow to return and reassert control of their villages. The war had lasted for over fourteen years, a time too long for people who have had several relocations to return to their former communities. With the coming of the Western Cluster in the community, many of the people are expected to return to their original communities, as many could begin finding employment. Others will have time to begin other agricultural activities that might contribute to loss of biological diversity.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "2008 National Population and Housing Census: Preliminary Results" (PDF). Government of the Republic of Liberia. 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  2. ↑ Dennis, Edwood (1 August 2008). "Liberia: Mano Resources Company Targets Modern Seaport". The Analyst. allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2008-10-12.

External links

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