Monrovia — Twelve foresters of the Liberia Forestry Development Authority (FDA) have completed a silviculatural and forest inventory training program.

The 10-day training program was sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service.

The training was made possible by a USDA grant through the U.S. Embassy in Liberia. it covered "forest inventory techniques, standing volume measurement, and forest management."

The sponsor of the training program noted that evaluating and understanding the standing volume of wood in Liberia's forest is critical to achieving sustainable management of the country's natural resources.

The training took place at the Singe Plantation, an experimental forest planted in the 1970s to research the feasibility of planting forestry for pulp and paper production in Liberia.

Singe is one of 11 experimental plantations covering 27,000 acres in Liberia.

Development Alternatives Initiative (DAI), a USAID contractor and the FDA are collaborating to employ ex-combatants to clear the undergrowth of weeds at the Singe plantation to enhance its growth.

The training ended December 4, 2004 and was facilitated by several senior FDA personnel including, Alfred F. kotio, Manager of the National Reforestation Division, Moses Worgbeh, Manager, Community Forestry Division, Moses Gorapudolo, Head of Granding and Codification, and Samuka Zwen, Head of Planning.