Community residents around the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) plantations in Tapitta, Kpaytuo-Graie and Yekepa in Nimba County, have expressed concern over the continuous abuse of their plantations by certain individuals for farming and other purposes.

The community dwellers said the massive encroachment and wanton destruction of the FDA plantation which is enriched with a variety of valuable species such as teak, if not checked, will hamper government's expressed commitment to poverty reduction in Liberia.

According to them, unless urgent action is taken, Government stands to lose millions of dollars in tax revenue and at the same time miss out significantly on investments that would create hundreds of jobs for Liberians particularly those living along the fringes of the public plantations.

The residents are hereby calling on the Government of Liberia through the FDA to tackle the wave of abuse of its plantations throughout the Country in a bid to restore sanity and allow Liberians enjoy the social marginal benefits that would accrue as a result of investment in those plantations.

Meanwhile the FDA says it is alarmed by the reported action of individuals engaged in the unauthorized and unlawful utilization of its plantations throughout Liberia and is advising such individuals to desist immediately or face appropriate legal measures.