Liberia : Indicators

To date only logging permits have been allocated. There is indication of ongoing negotiation between the government and a Liberian carbon broker for carbon concessions in at least two communities; one in Rivercess and the other in Sinoe County. It is important that the PPCC Act regarding due diligence and competitive tendering is upheld for carbon contracts. Read more...

The FDA estimates that more than 3million hectares of forest are available for commercial use. More than third of this amount (1 million hectaures) has been allocated. Additional allocations are planned for two large FMCs in 2011. Of the estimated 1.5 million hectares or 30% of forest available for protection an approximate three per cent has been allocated. There is an ongoing collaboration between Liberia and Sierra Leone to create a trans-boundary park, encompassing the Gola forest spanning the two countries, which will bring Liberia closer to its conventional obligation under the CBD of 10% protection of national forests. Read more...

The process for allocating logging permit is clear. For ecotourism, carbon concessions and others the process is not clear. Read more...

The allocation of logging concessions begins with a land-use validation exercise. The validation process allows for communities to comment on the plan to allocate logging contracts in their area. Regulation 101 – 07: Public Participation lays out a clear process for public consultation for validating suitability of a particular land use proposed by FDA. In practice, local people are only informed when the area has already been allocated to a permit holder or at least when the decision to do so has been announced. Read more...

The forestry law and regulations specifically require this for logging concessions. The Public Procurement and Concessions Act also provide for open and competitive bidding processes for most public procurement activities. Read more...

The allocation process, as prescribed by law, is transparent and allows for series of checks and balances. The FDA receives sealed bids, which are then opened in public and presented to a Bid Evaluation Panel (BEP). The BEP evaluates the bid and due diligence is conducted by a body independent of the BEP. The results of the BEP and due diligence are forwarded to an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Concessions who then awards contracts based on the recommendations of the BEP and the findings of the due diligence. The FDA signs the contract after the prospective Contract Holder has completed negotiation with the IMCC. The contract goes to the Legislature for ratification, and then to the President for signature. Read more...

The Legislature conducts public hearings before ratifying contracts. Votes are then taken to determine whether or not the contract should be ratified.
In contrast, the Senate Rules allows for ratifying contracts in “Executive Session” which is not opened to the public to assess if the proper process were followed in ratifying such contracts. Read more...

The current system was designed in 2006 and its implementation was begun in 2008. It is still in its testing phase and no changes have been made to it. In addition, permit allocation is currently limited to logging operations. There is increasing need to design regulatory framework to cover REDD. Read more...

All logging contracts once ratified by the Legislature become laws and therefore become public documents. The LEITI Act specifically requires all contracts related to the extractive industries, including forestry be made public. The National Forestry Reform Law also specifically provides that these contracts are public documents. Read more...

The National Forestry Reform Law requires EIA for forestry contracts. The Environmental Protection and Management Law require all EIAs to begin with a public consultation process. Regulation 113-08 also address EIA related to the forest sector. The EIAs are conducted as a major pre-felling operation; without an approved EIA a Harvesting Certificate may not be issued. In 2009 FDA issues a Harvesting Certificate to Tarpeh Timber without their EIA being approved. Read more...

The National Forestry Reform Law requires EIA for forestry contracts. The Environmental Protection and Management Law require all EIAs to begin with a public consultation referred to as a scoping process to “ensure public participation early in the EIA process”. The Law also mandates public hearings during the EIA process and requires the Environmental Protection Agency to facilitate public access to all EIA related documents and to duly take public comments into account. Read more...