PROSPER Report: Harmonization of The Implementing Regulation with the Community Rights Law Of 2009 with Respect to Forest Lands

Community forestry is the management of forest resources by communities for commercial and non-commercial purposes to further their own livelihoods and development. Under the Liberian Community Rights Law of 2009 with Respect to Forest Lands (CRL), communities are granted legal rights over the areas of forest resources they have traditionally used, once they have completed the procedure elaborated in the Regulation to the Community Rights Law of 2009 with Respect to Forest Lands, as Amended (CRL Regulation). This requires following a nine-step process (“the Nine Steps”) to ensure that members of the community fully understand and support the application for Authorized Forest Community (AFC) status. It also requires the establishment of representative bodies with their own governing rules, to regulate the use of forest resources and ensure the effective administration of the AFC. Once the Nine Steps have been completed, a management plan to provide a framework for the use, access, and sustainable management of forest resources must also be drafted. These requirements are explained in the CRL Regulation.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been supporting the development of community forestry in Liberia since 2007 through two community forestry projects implemented by Tetra Tech and other partners: the Liberia Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (LRCFP); and the People, Rules and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER) Project. Through these programs, USAID strives to build the capacity of local partners and encourage better coordination between governmental, non-governmental, academic, and private sector organizations involved in forestry and community forestry.

SUMMARY

This report outlines the history and process of the “harmonization” of the 2011 Regulations to the Community Rights Law of 2009 with Respect to Forest Lands (CRL Regulations of 2011), with the Community Rights Law of 2009 with Respect to Forest Lands (CRL). It includes a general overview of the background to the harmonization process, together with a description of the various steps that were taken to amend the CRL Regulations of 2011 by the Liberian Forestry Development Authority (FDA), with the direct support of USAID-PROSPER. Submitted along with this report is a USB stick, which contains the relevant documentation indicating the support provided by USAID-PROSPER, in the following folders:

  1. First Proposed Amended CRL Regulation and Invitation to Comment
  2. Initial Written Comments
  3. Final Harmonization Report and Timeline
  4. Proposed Amended CRL Regulation (September 19th 2016)
  5. Summary of Proposed Amendments for Publication and Broadcast
  6. Notice of National Vetting Workshop and Attendance Sheet
  7. National Vetting Workshop (November 2nd 2016)
  8. Written Comments
  9. Justification Document
  10. FINAL REGULATION (February 17th 2016)