Liberia hosts environmental forum | foreign brief

Liberia will today host the final session of a high-level international forum on the environment.

In collaboration with the World Bank, the Norwegian government and other international stakeholders, the Liberian government aims to consolidate commitments and partnerships in sustainable forest management, boosting its own national forest industry. With more than 200 participants, the forum aims to encourage private investors and former development partners, including USAID, UNDP, the European Union and the UK to finance forestry expansion and benefit from the development of the Liberian economy.

Liberia’s forestry sector has the potential to reduce extreme poverty in the country while promoting sustainable development. However, several obstacles continue to impede its progress, including deforestation for agricultural expansion, illegal logging and mining activities. Without help from international stakeholders to expand sustainable forest management, the industry is likely to plateau and, depending on the world Bankbecome a poverty trap for local communities whose lives, food and income depend on it.

Given its funding from the Liberia Forestry Training Institute last year, USAID is expected to be a major contributor to the 2023 initiatives. With the United States on board, its Western allies are expected to follow suit.