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Liberia’s Rural Dwellers to Benefit from New Forestry Law
Aug 31, 2006
by J. Cholo Brooks / Senior Staff Writer
 

- Liberia’s Rural Dwellers Expressed Happiness, Describes it as "The Best Ever">/strong>
Liberia's rural dwellers that have been denied over the years of developmental projects by various logging companies will now have the opportunities to reap the fruits of their forests, following the signing into law the news National Forestry Law.

The new draft National Forestry Law, which is currently under scrutiny by the Liberian Senate and House of Representatives, has allotted several benefits to rural dwellers that are expected to sign what is called, "Social Contract" with logging companies.

Under this contract, logging companies will be mandated to provide basic social services including education, health, road network, and employment opportunities for the residents whose areas will be used by the logging company. The law will also provide that companies compensate the locals for the use of their land.

The draft bill when enacted into law will consider and respect the right of privately owned lands and forests, and will also give residents the opportunity to participate in the vetting process of all concessions agreements.

Tuesday of this week, members of the House of Representatives voted, setting aside 40 percent of what they termed as "Commercial Forests" exclusively for Liberians. Maryland County Representative, David Saydee during Tuesday's plenary, argued that 15 percent of the total forest revenue coming to the national government should be used for development of the community where logs have been abstracted.

Speaking to reporters in Monrovia, River Gee Senator, Isaac Johnson who is also Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Forestry, Agriculture and Fishery said the new forest law when passed will meet international standards.

He explained that the new law prioritizes the interest and welfare of rural people in keeping with the United Nations mandate. Senator Johnson further told reporters that the Legislature was doing everything to meet the UN deadline.

According to the United Nations deadline, the government of Liberia has up to September of this year, which is just 48 hours from today date, to approve a new forest law or risk losing the partial lifting of sanction on Liberian timbers.

Senator Johnson however hinted the Liberian Times Correspondent late last night that the bill is expected to be passed later today, he said: he and his colleagues were in hast to approve the law because they are expected to leave today for their annual break.

Some of the locals who are in Monrovia vacationing expressed to our correspondent their gratitude of this new move by the lawmakers, "look my brother, if this new law is passed we in those areas will be empowered, and our areas will be developed," the resident said.