Liberia: Nimba Community Forest Feud Exposes Conflict In Liberian Laws

Nov 19, 2020 | Joaquin M. Sendolo, Observer
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It should have been a good year for Blei Community Forest in Gba and Zor, east of Sanniquellie. It had signed up to a range of promising projects to sustainably benefit from the forest including a partnership with the United States Forest Service to set up an ecotourism program in the 631-hectare forest across the Gbehley-Geh, Yarmein and Sehyi districts. It had a US$99,000 memorandum of understanding with ArcelorMittal Liberia to monitor wildlife species and maintain its border with the East Nimba Nature Reserve (ENNR). And there was support, too, from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to conserve biodiversity in the rocky forest.