Liberia: CSOs, Communities Raise Alarm Over Draft Carbon Development Policy

Monrovia – Civil society organizations (CSOs) and community representatives working in Liberia’s natural resource and governance sectors have raised serious concerns over the government’s Draft Carbon Development Policy, warning that if left unaddressed, it could undermine community rights, foster exclusion, and weaken the country’s credibility in global carbon markets.

In a joint statement issued this week, environmental and human rights groups, alongside community structures, acknowledged the government’s role in coordinating national climate action and aligning with the Paris Agreement. However, they said the current draft falls short on transparency, accountability, inclusivity, and protection of community rights.

“Predicated upon our review of the draft Carbon Development Policy and the processes attendant therewith, we hereby flag critical concerns which must be addressed before finalization,” the CSOs and community leaders stated.

Lack of Inclusive Consultation

One of the major grievances raised is the rushed and “exclusionary” consultation process. According to the groups, key stakeholders and affected communities were given inadequate notice, citing the Ganta meeting as an example where notice was issued too late for meaningful participation.

They called for adequate timeframes for review, independent facilitation of dialogues, and genuine participation from rural and marginalized communities.

Carbon Credit Ownership Concerns

The groups also objected to provisions granting the Government of Liberia ownership of all carbon credits and Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs). They argued that such centralization disregards land tenure systems and risks disincentivizing communities, landowners, and private investors who generate emission reductions.

Instead, they recommended that the government’s role be limited to regulation, authorization, and aggregation, with ownership aligned to the Land Rights Act (2018), Community Rights Law (2009), and the Forestry Reform Law (2006).

Community Contracting Rights

The statement further warned against provisions allowing the government to contract project developers over customary and private lands, describing the approach as a violation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

“Communities and private landowners must retain the right to contract carbon credit projects directly, supported by government, CSOs, and partners,” the groups said, warning that failure to do so risks perpetuating “carbon colonialism.”

Benefit Sharing and Payments

On benefit sharing, the CSOs rejected proposals requiring proceeds from community and private lands to be paid into government-controlled accounts, saying such measures lack legal basis. They called for direct payments to communities in line with existing land and community rights laws, while limiting benefit-sharing frameworks to public lands and government-owned facilities.

Representation and Accountability

The statement also flagged the absence of community voices in decision-making structures such as the steering and technical committees. CSOs are demanding guaranteed representation at all levels, as well as stronger dispute resolution mechanisms to prevent risks of failed international carbon contracts.

Call for FPIC as Non-Negotiable

The groups insisted that FPIC must remain a “non-negotiable standard” for all climate and carbon initiatives on customary and private lands.

Conclusion

While raising these concerns, the CSOs and communities emphasized their willingness to collaborate with the government in shaping a carbon policy that is transparent, inclusive, legally sound, and fair.

“The credibility of Liberia’s climate commitments and the livelihoods of our communities depend on it,” the statement concluded.

The statement was signed by the NGO Coalition of Liberia, Union of Community Forest Development Committees (NUCFDC), National Union of Community Forest Management Bodies (NUCFMB), and the Community Land Development and Management Committees (CLDMC).