This year’s GA focuses on review and approval of Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between the National Union and CFMBs, presentation of bylaws and constitution, presentation of community forest reports, challenges and achievements in community forest and the election of community forest officials.
The 2022 GA is sponsored by ClientEarth, Norwegian Agency for Development Corporation (NORAD) and Heritage Partners & Associates (HPA). Making remarks at the opening of the meeting, NUCFMB Lead Facilitator, Bonathan Walaka said the GA is an annual constitutional requirement for the National Union. He noted that the event aims to strengthen information sharing on Community Forest Management Agreement, in terms of commercial and conservation forestry.
ClientEarth Consortium’s Coordinator Julie Wiah encouraged electorates to consider women participation in the election process. She expressed dissatisfaction on the limited number of women currently in the leadership of the community forest. “It is disheartening to see only two women among 50 men in this room. You have to muster the courage to encourage women’s participation in the pending election so as to reflect gender balance leadership at the level of the community forest”, said Julie Wiah.
The introduction of community forestry in Liberia was to give community the rights to manage and control their forests and its resources for the benefit of the community members. Such power is contained in the 2009 Community Rights Law with regards to forest land.