Research and Other Publications
Developing Effective Environmental Laws and Policies
Strengthening the Legal Framework for Forest Management in Liberia
In April 2004, ELI was selected to provide legal expertise for a United States government mission sent to assess the state of the forestry sector in Liberia. The mission team developed an action plan for the government of Liberia to restore good governance and the rule of law, promote sustainable forestry practices, prevent revenue leakage, promote the utilization of forest revenues for the benefit of the Liberian people, and create conditions under which sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council on the export of logs and timber from Liberia could be lifted. ELI s staff and the other team members spent twelve days in Monrovia and consulted with all relevant stakeholders including the government of Liberia, the Forestry Development Authority, international agencies and development partners, as well as local and international NGOs. ELI recommended that several parts of Liberia’s forestry law be amended and that new regulations be promulgated in the areas of concession allocations, financial accountability and transparency, environmental impact assessment, and community participation and benefit sharing. In order to improve legal implementation, ELI recommended a series of capacity building workshops for the management and staff of FDA, lawyers and county court judges, as well as local Liberian NGOs. ELI is currently working with the USFS, FDA, and local partners in Liberia to amend the Forestry Law, draft the necessary regulations, and hold the capacity building workshops.
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