Liberia FDA: Intervenes in Nimba Forest Dispute Over Land Rights

• The Forestry Development Authority (FDA) intervened in a longstanding forest dispute in Nimba County, Liberia.
• Residents threatened to boycott the 2029 elections due to alleged encroachment on their farmlands.
• Local farmers have been restricted from disputed forest areas since 2016, while a group called Bokina-Bees allegedly occupies them.
• The FDA has deployed three forest rangers to investigate the allegations and recommend actions.
• Residents demand access to farmland, clear forest boundaries, and livelihood protection as part of any resolution.

Residents have made it clear that any satisfactory resolution to this longstanding Nimba County forest encroachment issue must fundamentally address three key aspects: guaranteed access to farmland, unambiguous clarification of forest boundaries, and robust protection of their livelihoods.

The Forestry Development Authority (FDA) in Liberia has recently stepped in to address a protracted land conflict in the Boe-Quilla Administrative District of Nimba County. This intervention by the Forestry Development Authority Liberia comes after local residents issued a serious threat to boycott the upcoming 2029 elections, citing grievances over alleged encroachment on their agricultural lands. The dispute centers on access to and control over forest areas crucial for their livelihoods.

Victor Kpaiseh, the FDA's Deputy Managing Director for Administration and Finance, traveled to Marley Town on Friday, November 6, to engage with the affected community. During a town hall meeting, Kpaiseh appealed for calm, assuring the residents that the authority is actively working to resolve their concerns. This direct engagement underscores the gravity of the situation, particularly given the residents' electoral boycott threat, which highlights the deep-seated nature of the Nimba County forest encroachment issue.

At the heart of the Liberia FDA Nimba forest dispute are accusations leveled by residents against a group identified as the Bokina-Bees. The community claims this group has occupied portions of a contested forest area from which local farmers have been barred since 2016. The FDA had previously imposed restrictions on farming activities in these areas, pending a new forest demarcation process. However, residents contend that the authority failed to provide them with alternative farmland, leading to significant challenges with poverty and food insecurity for numerous families.

A particularly poignant complaint came from several women, who highlighted the perceived injustice: while local inhabitants were prevented from cultivating their traditional plots, the Bokina-Bees were reportedly occupying parts of the very same forest. This disparity has fueled calls for the FDA to re-examine the 1952 forest demarcation. The community's objective in revisiting this historical boundary is to clearly differentiate between designated protected areas and their traditional community farmlands, thereby safeguarding their Liberia community land rights.

In response to the community's grievances, Deputy Managing Director Kpaiseh urged residents to collaborate with the FDA. He specifically requested their assistance in identifying individuals allegedly responsible for facilitating the occupation of the disputed forest lands. This call for cooperation signals the FDA's intent to gather more information directly from those affected by the Bokina-Bees forest occupation.

As a concrete step towards resolution, the FDA has dispatched three forest rangers to the Boe-Quilla Administrative District. Their mandate is to thoroughly investigate the allegations put forth by the residents and subsequently recommend appropriate actions to the authority. However, residents have made it clear that any satisfactory resolution to this longstanding Nimba County forest encroachment issue must fundamentally address three key aspects: guaranteed access to farmland, unambiguous clarification of forest boundaries, and robust protection of their livelihoods.

Lawyers advising clients on land use, forestry, or agricultural projects in Liberia, particularly in Nimba County, should closely monitor the FDA's investigation and resolution of this dispute. The outcome could set precedents for community land rights, forest demarcation, and regulatory enforcement, potentially impacting existing or future land concessions and compliance obligations.

Source: Original reporting via New Dawn and AllAfrica.