Forest Governance

This briefing paper provides an analysis of the revenue flow from the logging industry into the national coffers and logging affected communities. Publicly available national revenue collection data and payments to communities are used as the basis for the analysis to ensure a fairly accurate assessment of the financial flows.

This monitoring framework was developed by SDI under the project: Tackling deforestation through linking REDD and FLEGT and funded by European Commission and  UK Department of International Development. It broadens ongoing civil society initiative to include monitoring access to information, participation in benefit sharing and community rights involving REDD+ programs currently ongoing in the Liberian forest sector.

This briefing paper asserts that "Logging without a permit or outside a logging contract area or concession is illegal". The Forestry Development Authority has committed to "formulate a regulation ensuring forestry legal requirements are followed regarding felling of logs alongside access road leading into a concession area" from SDI’s publication Logging Outside the Blouquia Community Forest Management Area 2.

This report will examine two of the most serious potential threats to good governance and professional management of Liberian forests: the looming wave of Community Forestry Management Agreements (CFMAs), and the potential for large-scale conversion of forests into agriculture plantations – particularly oil palm. By examining these emerging issues critically, the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) hopes to warn the Liberian government and its partners of the potential for abuse and mismanagement in coming years.

This report presents an analysis of lessons learned from the forest sector reform process and includes recommendations for all key players to ensure the implementation of the VPA will contribute to improving good governance in Liberia.

This report details how a quarter of Liberia’s total landmass was granted to logging companies in just two years, following an explosion in the use of often illegal logging permits. A new type of logging contracts, Private Use Permits, give companies unparalleled access to some of Liberia’s most pristine forests. The report uncovers how Private Use Permits are being used by companies to avoid Liberia’s carefully-crafted forest laws and regulations.

This is a summary of 'So Who Owns the Forest?' which explores issues of property rights and customary land tenure. This report advocates the urgent need for reform which recognises local people's collective entitlement over their customary lands. It offers practical solutions for dealing with land tenure issues for inclusion in national law.

Exploring issues of property rights and customary land tenure, this report advocates the urgent need for reform which recognises local people's collective entitlement over their customary lands. It reviews the treatment of customary land tenure over the century-long process of forming the modern Liberian State and offers practical solutions for dealing with land tenure issues for inclusion in national law.

This report is the first ever forest sector report card for Liberia as part of the Making the Forest Sector Transparent project. It assesses the transparency and accessibility of information in the forest sector with a particular focus on forest governance. It underlines the vital role FDA, civil society and the private sector play in ensuring increased transparency in the sector.

This report acts as an annual forest sector report card for Liberia which assesses the transparency of the sector as part of the Making the Forest Sector Transparent project. It recommends that the government fully implement transparency measures contained in various laws and develop action plans to make information accessible and transparent.