88 leaders and officers of Community Forest Management Bodies (CFMBs) in pilot communities of the USAID-funded Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (LRCFP) have taken the oath of office to manage forests set aside by communities as their community forests.

The induction comes on the heels of plans by the CFMBs to demarcate the Blei Forest to be jointly managed by Gba and Zor Communities and to sign a co-management agreement for the management of the East Nimba Natural Reserve (ENNR).  When signed, the ENNR will be co-managed by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and the Gba and Zor communities through the Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC). The induction ceremony occurred on August 14th in Gbapa approximately 15 miles north of Sanniquellie, the administrative capital of Nimba County.

Those inducted were Saye Thompson, chairman of the JFMC; Gaye Dokpa, Vice Chairman; Prince Mahn, Secretary; James Karmen, Treasurer; Alfred Geh, Advisor; and Wilfred Tokpah, Head Ranger. Others were the Presidents and officers of the Forest Management Committees of Gba and Zor, officials of the Executive Committee (EC) and heads of other standing committees. Some of the inducted heads of the CFMBs were duly elected by their respective Community Assemblies (CAs) while others were appointed by their Executive Committees and Community Assemblies.

The CA, according to the Community Rights Law (CRL) is the highest decision making body on community forest management issue. In line with the bylaws and constitutions of Gba and Zor, the newly inducted officers will serve a period of four years, however they can be chosen for a second four-year term.  After the second term they are no longer eligible to serve for any position on the CFMB.

Administering the oath of office, the County Inspector of Nimba, Thomas Suah, urged the inducted officials to demonstrate a new sense of consciousness and leadership by taking advantage of the capacity building opportunity put at their disposal by the USAID-funded LRCFP and the FDA.

“This program is empowering the locals, the custodians of our forests to have a say, and this, in my mind, is the first time in the history of Liberia that community people are deciding for themselves their destiny in the management of their own forests. It is our hope that you will maximize this opportunity for your benefit and the benefits of your future generations”, Mr. Suah asserted.

He further cautioned the community people to take ownership of the forests and beware of outsiders who in the past negotiated their fate in Monrovia for little or nothing and imposed decisions on them - decisions that never had their input.

He thanked USAID on behalf of the County Administration of Nimba for funding the LRCFP in the county. Speaking earlier, LRCFP Community Forestry Specialist Dr Samuel Koffa challenged the inducted community representatives to justify the confidence reposed in them by their communities.

The induction ceremony was attended by the head of UNMIL in Nimba; local coordinators of the Ministries of Agriculture, Gender and Development; the head of the Liberia National Police in Nimba; representatives of local and international NGOs; chiefs and elders; the Mayor of Sanniquellie City; youth groups; and women’s representatives.

Consistent with the Community Rights Law (CRL) of 2009, and consistent with international protocols and treaties, the Government of Liberia is committed to respecting and upholding the rights of the population to manage and make decisions concerning the development and use of their forest resources.

In this respect, the LRCFP in collaboration with the FDA is building the capacities of community institutions in four communities in Nimba and Sinoe Counties in sustainable management of community forests and forest resources.

Building on experience and lessons learned from their work with LRCFP and FDA, the communities have begun taking concrete actions towards strengthening their institutions. In early September, the CFMBs of Zor, Gba, Nimopoh and Nitrian in Nimba and Sinoe Counties will finalize the probation of their bylaws, constitutions and articles of incorporation as part of their formalization process.