Monrovia – The Joint Implementation Committee (JIC), a technical support group established by the government of Liberia and European (EU) to monitor and supervise the activities of the Liberian forest sector on Monday, December 4, 2017 held its 2nd technical meeting to address crucial forest related matters including gaps mitigation strategies.
In their earlier separate opening remarks, JIC co-chairs Darlington S, Tuagben, FDA managing director and Alberto Menghini, head of sector, EU delegation welcomed the participants for their resilience in turning the wheel of the sector turning.
They thanked the participants for their individual contributions to the forest sector thereby making the work of the JIC possible.
The meeting held in the Board Room of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) brought together key stakeholders in the forest sector aimed at reviewing progress made thus far in the sector since the last JIC meeting held in Monrovia.
It is customary that after every three months JIC meets to measure the level of progress in the sector in order to provide essential technical advice where necessary for the growth and development in the sector.
Among other crucial issues discussed by several discussants included: Forest Management and Harvesting Obligation, Labor obligation, Regulatory Framework Completion/cross cutting issues, Non-Compliance and Annual Operation Plan.
Others were Social obligation, the current structure of VPA Secretariat, Financial sustainability, Transport and Traceability and the submerging of VPA and LVD secretariats under the administration of the FDA.
Key discussants included Borwen L. Sayon, deputy managing director for operations, FDA, Fredric Teppe, SGS, Philip Joekolo, FDA, Joseph Tally, FDA, Edward Kamara, FDA, Abraham Guillen, Wolfgang Thoma and Ikem Eronini all of VPASU.
At the close of the one day meeting, the technical body unanimously resolved to work concertedly in line with its mandate to ensure an effective supervisory role in the forest sector as expected by both the EU and the government of Liberia as far as internationally acceptable forest governance is concerned.
The FDA management and the EU delegation reiterated their calls on the technical team to put in place gaps mitigation strategies to ensure that all is well in the sector.