Monrovia – The Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL) has expressed deep concern over the Forestry Growth Authority’s (FDA) abrupt suspension of all actions resulting in the gazettement of the Foya Proposed Protected Space (FPPA). Introduced on January 31, 2026, with out ample session, the choice threatens years of progress in forest conservation and undermines Liberia’s credibility in assembly its nationwide and worldwide commitments.
The SCNL warns that halting the FPPA course of poses a major danger to Liberia’s authorized commitments underneath the Nationwide Forestry Reform Regulation of 2006 and the Wildlife Conservation and Protected Space Administration Regulation of 2016. These legal guidelines require the safety of a minimum of 30 % of the nation’s forest property. The suspension additionally ignores provisions that mandate clear consultations and the need of acquiring free, prior, and knowledgeable consent.
In line with Part 5.8 of the 2016 Regulation, solely the Legislature has the authority to switch or abolish a protected space, and this could solely occur with applicable scientific and social justification. Due to this fact, the executive suspension by the FDA exceeds its authority.
Sections 5.4.4 and 5.4.1(i) of the 2006 Nationwide Forestry Reform Regulation particularly require clear and participatory consultations, in addition to free, prior, and knowledgeable consent earlier than any choices relating to protected areas are made. These necessities weren’t fulfilled.
“This motion violates nationwide legislation, breaches worldwide commitments, and jeopardizes the livelihoods of forestdependent communities,” SCNL stated in an announcement. “It dangers eroding donor confidence, undermining carbonfinance alternatives, and reversing hardwon conservation positive factors because the finish of Liberia’s civil battle.”
Threats to Communities and Livelihoods
The FPPA gazettement has been supported by the EU, RSPB, Rainforest Belief, and SCNL itself, delivering tangible advantages to 158 communities and greater than 50,000 folks.
These embrace climatesmart agriculture for over 1,500 farmers, customary land formalisation, livelihood tasks comparable to rice milling, and the creation of greater than 100 jobs with sturdy participation from ladies and youth.
SCNL warns that suspending conservation actions will destabilize these positive factors and enhance dangers of unlawful logging, wildlife trafficking, and forest degradation.
The group additional highlighted the worldwide implications.
Worldwide Commitments and Donor Confidence
Since 2009, SCNL and companions have invested greater than US$11.7 million within the Gola–Foya panorama, with hundreds of thousands extra at present being deployed. The suspension threatens Liberia’s eligibility for future climatefinance alternatives, together with US$20.68 million yearly from the Tropical Forest Perpetually Facility and an estimated US$908 million from a possible REDD+ challenge.
A Shift Towards Industrial Logging
SCNL additional warns that the suspension alerts a troubling shift from sustainable forestry to industrial logging, regardless of Liberia’s longstanding governance challenges within the sector. Knowledge from the forest sector reveals that by 2019, logging corporations owed communities US$37.6 million in unpaid land leases, whereas authorities transferred solely US$2.6 million of the US$27.7 million collected—simply 10 % as an alternative of the legally required 30 %. In consequence, communities obtained seven instances lower than their authorized entitlement.
Logging has traditionally delivered low income, weak compliance, and restricted neighborhood advantages. The current instance of the Tonglay Neighborhood terminating their logging contract resulting from nonpayment of charges highlights the dangers communities face when shortterm positive factors are prioritized over longterm sustainability. SCNL stresses that these failures will not be remoted however systematic, underscoring why conservation and communitydriven forest administration should stay central to Liberia’s growth technique.
CarbonFinance and biodiversity at Danger
Liberia is at present growing frameworks for carbonbased income via the Carbon Markets Authority, the Nationwide Carbon Coverage, and the Nationwide REDD+ Technique. These mechanisms require confidence within the permanence of Liberia’s forest carbon belongings. Defending highcarbon landscapes like Foya is crucial for income technology and for attracting personal funding into Liberia.
Nevertheless, SCNL With out safeguarding Foya, Liberia dangers shedding credibility in carbon markets and forfeiting longterm financing alternatives that might rework rural livelihoods and nationwide growth.
SCNL emphasised that Foya is likely one of the final intact blocks of the Higher Guinean Forest, dwelling to critically endangered species such because the African Forest Elephant, Whitebellied Pangolin, and Chimpanzee. Defending Foya is crucial not just for biodiversity but additionally for Liberia’s rising carbonfinance structure.
The suspension additionally contradicts President Joseph Boakai’s
ARREST Agenda, which prioritizes environmental sustainability and local weather finance. Pillar seven of the federal government of Liberia’s 5 12 months growth technique ‘the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Growth’ (AAID) strongly spoke about environmental sustainability.
“Liberia can’t afford to commerce its pure heritage for shortterm positive factors,” SCNL acknowledged. “Conservation isn’t the enemy of growth; it’s the basis.”
FDA should rethink choice
SCNL is urging the FDA Managing Director to instantly reverse the suspension, the Govt to make sure compliance with nationwide legal guidelines and worldwide commitments, and the Legislature to train oversight and accountability.
The group additionally calls on civil society, conventional leaders, and growth companions to defend Liberia’s forests and uphold conservation agreements.
