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Liberia: Rush to Log Forests Will Jeopardise the Reform Process


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Global Witness (London)

PRESS RELEASE
27 March 2008
Posted to the web 27 March 2008

Under intense pressure from the timber industry[1] – including many familiar faces from the past – the Forest Development Authority (FDA) of Liberia has started to issue timber contracts[2]. Yet key legislation on community rights – to ensure an equitable balance between community, conservation and commercial forestry[3] – is still in draft[4]. The rush to allow a timber trade with a poor track record of corruption and trampling on community rights raises the spectre of Liberia’s forests once again undermining stability in this fragile country.

In the past Liberia’s timber industry has fuelled conflict, widespread human rights abuses and destabilisation in West Africa. It is critical that those linked to the conflict are not able to operate in the forestry sector again. International NGOs have commended the Liberian government and the FDA for their efforts to bring good governance and transparency to the forest sector, but now it is time to take stock, learn from the mistakes and treat these as a proving ground to demonstrate Liberia can make a clean break with the past. It is imperative the rule of law is followed, and seen to be followed.

However, the process to date has had its difficulties. Significant weaknesses have been documented in the prequalification for those wishing to obtain logging permits[5], to which the Government of Liberia did not respond. And evidence suggests the system for debarring "those who have aided and abetted civil disturbances"[6] is failing[7].

Above all, a proper implementation of the Community Rights Law is critically important. It is too early to allocate either concessions or conservation areas before having clarified and codified who owns the forest. The resumption of large-scale logging before this law is implemented will undermine the efforts of rural communities to develop and prosper, as they once again become dependent on the whim, and unequal negotiating power, of the timber industry. Liberia is well placed to learn from the experience of other countries in the region: in Ghana and Cameroon, for example, the longstanding failure to develop and implement an effective community role in the management of forest resources has exacerbated rural poverty, and at times led to conflict.

The Government of Liberia and the FDA have repeatedly stressed their "absolute commitment not to return to the old way of doing business"[8]. We therefore call on the FDA to remain committed to treating the six initial contracts currently being awarded as a pilot, and withhold any further steps to allocate concessions until the Community Rights Law is properly implemented and issues raised by Liberian civil society in the prequalification process are fully addressed.

International organisations

Global Witness

FERN

Rainforest Action Network

Greenpeace International

Environmental Investigation Agency

Forests Monitor

Ghana Forest Forums

President of the Ghana National Forest Forum

Upper East Regional Forest Forum

Sunyani Forest Forum

Brong Ahafo Regional Forest Forum

Other Ghanaian organisations

Forest Watch Ghana

Representatives of Traditional Rulers

General Agricultural Workers Union of Ghana Trades Union

Adwenaase Community Forest Project

Oncho-free Development Agency

Notes:

1. The Analyst (Monrovia), 8 February 2008 "FDA stalling logging operations"; The Analyst (Monrovia), 25 February 2008 "FDA boss faces another hearing over delayed community forest law"; The Inquirer (Monrovia), 3 March 2008 "FDA to submit draft law in one month". http://allafrica.com/

Relevant Links

West Africa
Agribusiness
Economy, Business and Finance
Conflict, Peace and Security
Environment
Liberia
Sustainable Development

2. FDA, 5 March 2008 "Bids officially opened for six timber sale contracts". www.fda.gov.lr/press.php?news_id=123. Bids for six small contracts have been evaluated and negotiations are due to start soon. Bids for an additional three larger and long-term concessions have also been announced.

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