1. Community Forest Governance in Liberia
… an overview of the process
Dominic Kweme
Organizational Development & Governance Advisor
PROSPER, TetraTech ARD/CJPS
December 12, 2013

2. People Rules and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER)
3 field offices
10 sites in Nimba & Grand Bassa Counties
16 clan groups
151+ villages
~100,000 hectares
Outreach and awareness
Education
Supporting rule of law
Forest management
Implementing law
Capacity building of responsible institutions
Economic development
Livelihood initiatives
Pictured in slide from left to right are: Chief Bartuah Bartuah, CFMB Chair Yormie Karsiah, Gabriel Gbanlon, District Commissioner and Moses Wogbeh, FDA MD

3. BACKGROUND CONTEXT: FORESTRY LEGAL FRAMEWORK

4. The National Forestry Reform Law (2006)
Requirement for a National Forest Management Strategy (NFRL §§4.4a-g)
Shall classify all lands
Specify areas for the 3Cs:
Commercial
Conservation
Community Forestry
Any other…

5. COMMUNITY FORESTS

6. The NFRL and the Community Rights Law of 2009
Community Forestry: The governance and management of Forest Resources in designated areas by communities for commercial and non-commercial purposes to further their livelihoods and development. NFRL §1.3
Intent of the NFRL & CRL
Empower communities to engage in sustainable forest management: prior informed consent
Objectives of the CRL
Define community and FDA rights and responsibilities of ownership, management, use and benefits
Establish informed representation
Ownership rights to the forest resources

7. FMC, TSC v. CFMA: the role of communities
Communities are “affected” but do not own the resources
Concessions manage the forest
Communities automatically receive a portion of land rental fees and production fees
Communities sign Social Agreements with concessionaires
Communities own the resources
Communities manage the forest
Communities have the right to negotiate for up to 55% of revenues
Communities sign contracts with contractors

8. Authorized Community Forestry

9. A nine step process…

10. A nine step process…

11. A nine step process…

12. A nine step process…

13. A nine step process…

14. How long does this take????

15. Step 8: Development of governance structures
Extensive outreach & awareness
Stakeholder meeting to develop criteria for CA representation
Outreach on elections
Election in community for CA
Selection of Executive Committee
Appointment of CFMB

16. Capacity Building Leadership training Conflict management
Financial management
Negotiations skills
Inventory techniques
GPS training

17. Laws don’t translate into practice
Challenges
Laws don’t translate into practice
Good laws need political will, training and capacity building to implement
FDA Capacity
Technical support for boundary demarcation, mapping, management planning
Training Requirements
Limited staff
CRL Procedural difficulties
CFMB registration
Not explicitly covered by VPA
Procedural Difficulties:
Written by-laws and a constitution required
Registration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and county level probate
Election of Board and requirement of HoR Board member
FDA Capacity
Community Forestry Division has few staff and fewer resources
Technical expertise in geospatial analysis, surveying is not there
Resources to mobilise to provide community support are not available
$250 application fee does not cover the real cost of FDA time
Although it requires a lot of work up front, it leads to stronger institutions. Elite capture and/or weak institutions are potential outcomes. Creating a cadre of forestry professionals that can support the development of these institutions is critical to CF success
Lands not covered under the CRL
Protected Areas- potential for community collaboration but no clear policy from FDA
Private Use permits on fee simple lands (e.g. Public land sale deeds to collectives or Aborigine Land Grant Deeds issued before 1956
How should communities be engaged?
Private Use Permits on lands (no fee simple rights) – tribal land certs, Tribal territory deeds)
NEED FOR HARMONIZATION OF LAWS RELATED TO LAND.

18. Participation Procedural Difficulties:
Written by-laws and a constitution required
Registration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and county level probate
Election of Board and requirement of HoR Board member
FDA Capacity
Community Forestry Division has few staff and fewer resources
Technical expertise in geospatial analysis, surveying is not there
Resources to mobilise to provide community support are not available
$250 application fee does not cover the real cost of FDA time
Although it requires a lot of work up front, it leads to stronger institutions. Elite capture and/or weak institutions are potential outcomes. Creating a cadre of forestry professionals that can support the development of these institutions is critical to CF success
Lands not covered under the CRL
Protected Areas- potential for community collaboration but no clear policy from FDA
Private Use permits on fee simple lands (e.g. Public land sale deeds to collectives or Aborigine Land Grant Deeds issued before 1956
How should communities be engaged?
Private Use Permits on lands (no fee simple rights) – tribal land certs, Tribal territory deeds)
NEED FOR HARMONIZATION OF LAWS RELATED TO LAND.

19. Thank you….
The PROSPER team thanks you for your support. Please contact the following persons or any PROSPER team member:
Dominic Kweme, Organizational Development and Governance Advisor
Stephen Reid, Chief of Party
Vaneska Litz, DCOP/CF & Land Tenure Lead