By: Darius Karngar – karngedarius27@gmail.com
Monrovia – Decades ago, rural forest-based communities affected by logging were deprived from getting their benefits.
Forest communities in Liberia face significant challenges including deforestation, land conflicts, poor governance, and a lack of sustainable management practices, impacting their livelihoods and the environment.
To ensure these challenges are resolved, the National Forest Reform Law established what it calls the National Benefit Sharing Trust Board, to manage and ensure affected forest-based communities receive their 30% share of land rental fees Logging Companies operating in their areas.
As required by section 11g of the Forestry Development Agency (FDA) Reg. 114-10 on funds for CFDCs, 2010” every six months with the assistance of the monitoring and Evaluation Committee, the NBST shall provide a report to all Community Forestry Development Committee detailing the financial status of the found. The report shall include the Trust’s income and expenditure for that respective quarter.
National Benefit Sharing Trust Board on March 27, 2025, launched its second biannual report affecting the 2024 activities of the NBST.
During the presenting of the report, the Board through its National Chairperson Solomon Peter said the report covered the period of July 1 – December 31, 2024.
“Kindly do not hesitate to contact the NBST through its secretariat for any concerns that you may have, the Board assures you its fullest cooperation in ensuring that revenues from the land rental fees positively impact the lives of the affected Communities,” he said.
During the period under review, the Board reviewed and approved seven projects and their location with a total cost of $32, 273.07 United States Dollars, the projects including constructed a Guest House in Puto Duo Town, FMC-I Grand Gedeh County, construction of Community Services Center in Voogbadee, FMC-I Sinoe County, and the completion and Operationalization of a Clinic in Zeegar Town, FMC-K River Cess County.
Others are the town hall completion project in Dougee Town, FMC-K Grand Gedeh County and the completed Forkpata School that is currently being used by residents.
During the period under review the Board engaged with partners, the Forest Trends Organization, the Multi-Stakeholders Forest Government and Accountability Project (MFGAP), and the National Multi-Stakeholders Monitoring Committee (NMSMC)
“The Board encountered numerous challenges, including the Funding Gap and Land Rental Fees Payment, Delays in the completion of some projects, and understaffing of the Secretariat among others.” He said.
