Monrovia – Several international conservationist have alarmed over a proposed plan by the Forestry development Authority (FDA) to develop a regulation to allow for forest destruction or conversion for oil palm and/or rubber plantations.
In a communication dated June 30, 2016 address to Mr. Harrison Karnwea, Managing Director of the FDA, a number of international individuals working on forest related issues expressed that the plan by the FDA contradicts the government’s pledge to work with the international community to reduce deforestation and forest degradation.
“We are, however, deeply concerned that the FDA plans to develop a regulation to allow for forest destruction or conversion for oil palm and/or rubber plantations. We note that this does not only contradict the government’s pledge to work with the international community to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, and the restoration of degraded landscapes, it places the future of one of the most viable tract of rainforest in West Africa in danger”, stated the communication signed by 50 individuals from different countries.
The conservationists stated in the letter that they are expressing support to the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) Liberia and are also calling on the Government of Liberia to abandon the plan to legalize forest destruction by removing the current restriction on the export of timber from forest conversion.
Stated the communication “With this letter, we express support for the Sustainable Development Institute’s (SDI) call on the government of Liberia to abandon its plan to legalize forest destruction by removing the current restriction on the export of timber from forest conversion”.
The conservationists express that the Government of Liberia endorsed the New York Declaration on Forrest in 2014 and also signed a Partnership agreement with the European Union and the Kingdom of Norway and should therefore maintain commitments under these agreements.
“We note the Government of Liberia’s endorsement of the New York Declaration on Forest in 2014;Liberia’s Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the European Union; and its partnership with the Kingdom of Norway, and we encourage the government to follow through on its commitments under these initiatives”, added the letter.
The conservationists expressed support to the FDA for its decision to deny Golden Veroleum Liberia request for permit to allow logging for export in its Concession area.
“We are pleased that the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) of the Republic of Liberia denied Golden Veroleum Liberia’s request for a permit to allow logging for export in its Concession Area”, they noted. They continued “We congratulate the FDA for this decision and encourage the authority to continue its efforts to manage Liberia’s forest in a sustainable manner”.
Some of those who signed the communication are Leng Ouch, Cambodia, Luis Jorge Rivera-Herrera, Puerto Rico, Howard Wood, Scotland, Europe 2015, Jean Wiener, Haiti, Island & Island Nations, Ramesh Agrawal, India and Desmond Mathew D’Sa, South Africa, Africa.
In September 2014, Liberia reached a deal with Norway where the country was expected to become the first African country to completely stop cutting down its trees in return for development aid. As per the agreement Norway will pay $150 m to Liberia for the country stop deforestation by 2020.
Liberia’s forests are not as big as other countries but the country is home to a significant part of West Africa’s remaining rainforest, with 43% of the Upper Guinea forest.
Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority after Liberia reached the deal with Norway said the agreement is not against legal logging activities in the country.
Karnwea told FrontPageAfrica at time of the pronouncement of the Norway deal that the agreement is intended to protect the Liberian forest against illegal logging activities, but under the terms of the agreement logs from legal sources with logging companies in compliance with laws will be permitted for export.
Said Managing Director Karnwea: “The VPA, Volunteer Partnership Agreement, we signed with the European Union says that logs coming from Liberia must come from legal sources, legal source, meaning that company is complying with everything under the law, so it says we must review it. “
He also said “”If the gravity of the non -compliance is grave well the appropriate steps will be taken also, because Liberia cannot be seen as doing different from what they have signed up to with the European Union”.
Liberia’s forest has been a subject of abuse of years with dozens of logging companies operating in the country during crisis years.