Liberia: 'FDA Has Capacity Limitation' - Liberia's Forest Chief On U.S.$150 Million Deal

Nov 20, 2014 | AllAfrica
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When it was announced at the United Nations Climate Summit in New York that the Government of Norway would be partnering with the Government of Liberia to halt the destruction of Liberia's rainforest, in a US$150 million dollar arrangement, many Liberians were caught in their tracks. Loggers of Liberia's trees took keen interest in the report which aims to put an end to new logging contracts, more scope for forest-dependent communities to manage their forests, and increase protected forest areas. In particular, many questioned the timing and cloud of secrecy which preceded the signing. Harrison Karnwea, Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority recently sat down with FrontPageAfrica to explain why the deal had to be made, the complications, implications and of future logging activities in Liberia and how the FDA intends to force forest concessionaires to conform to the new measures of an industry crucial to Liberia's economic resurgence.