Monrovia, Liberia – July 8, 2025 — As part of efforts to ensure transparency, accountability, and the adoption of best practices in Liberia’s forestry sector, the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) convened a strategic planning meeting in preparation for the upcoming National Forest Forum (NFF) slated for October 2025.

Held at the Corina Hotel in Monrovia, the meeting brought together a cross-section of stakeholders including government institutions, civil society organizations, forest-edge communities, private sector actors, academia, and donor partners. The goal was to collaboratively chart a strategic path for an impactful and inclusive national dialogue on forestry.

In his opening remarks, FDA Managing Director Rudolph J. Merab, Sr. emphasized the need to reflect on Liberia’s pre-war forestry management legacy, urging participants to realign with the core mandate of the FDA. “Forestry is supposed to improve the lives of the community people, but we are not doing it,” he noted, calling for a renewed commitment to sustainable forest governance.

Liberia’s forests cover approximately 6.6 million hectares and are among the most important in the West African region, playing a critical role in biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem services. These forests also serve as a lifeline for thousands of forest-dependent communities.

At the core of the FDA’s current direction is its “People, Planet, and Profit (PPP)” vision, which seeks to balance environmental protection with socio-economic development. This vision is closely aligned with Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).

During the meeting, Madam Gertrude W. K. Nyaley, FDA’s Deputy Managing Director for Commercial and Technical Services, provided a historical overview of the FDA since its establishment in 1976. She highlighted the agency’s legal framework and ongoing challenges such as illegal logging, artisanal mining, and agricultural encroachment. Madam Nyaley also presented plans by the Commercial Forestry Division to strengthen revenue generation and reduce the FDA’s overreliance on donor funding.

Participants were later divided into five breakout groups representing the 4Cs approach:

• Commercial Forestry
• Conservation
• Community Forestry
• Carbon Sequestration
• and a cross-cutting group focused on policy coherence and interagency coordination.

Discussions from these groups will inform the structure, themes, and priorities of the forthcoming National Forest Forum.

Stephan Cocco, Program Manager for the European Union’s Green Team, encouraged the FDA to consolidate its leadership role by pursuing sustainable financing and strengthening interagency collaboration. “The FDA should leverage its leadership role to secure sustainable funding and coordinate better with government institutions that have interests that may conflict with the FDA's sustainable forestry objectives,” he advised.

Participants also stressed the need for a more strategic forum structure, proposing that the NFF focus on key priority issues and operate under a central theme to guide stakeholder engagement.

In her closing remarks, Madam Nora G. Bowier, Deputy Managing Director for Community Forestry, Conservation, and Carbon Sequestration, praised the interactive session for helping shape a more targeted, results-oriented National Forest Forum. “Whilst the FDA is reviewing the outcomes of previous National Forest Forums, this strategic meeting was helpful in preparing us to organize a more targeted, constructive, and impactful NFF,” she said.

The FDA’s leadership in coordinating stakeholders around the 4Cs framework remains crucial for advancing Liberia’s forest governance and contributing to its broader sustainable development agenda.