Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
Press Release
The Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and Integrated Development and Learning (IDL) are set to launch a roadmap today promoting alternative income for standing forests. The initiative, called Payment for Stewardship, aims to incentivize and reward communities that protect and sustainably manage forests on their customary lands.
Currently piloted in Wedjah and Jeadea Districts, Sinoe County (2025–2027), the program covers over 125,000 acres of biodiversity-rich forest. Communities have signed Cooperation Agreements with IDL, pledging to conserve forest areas in exchange for over US$150,000 in community development funds.
The communities agreed not to farm, mine, or log in the forest they have set aside; however, they will continue to harvest non-timber forest products for livelihoods and extract timber for community development projects.
The roadmap provides a blueprint for the FDA and IDL to scale up the pilot from 125,000 acres to 500,000 acres by 2027, drawing on lessons learnt from the pilot.
In his introduction to the roadmap, the FDA Managing Director indicated , “We can see a new future and are working towards it. We see communities with established land rights clustering together to form large forest landscapes, capable of attracting investment in commercial and conservation activities”, concluding, “We want to see more progress with the building of governance, benefit-sharing, accountability and enterprise at community level. It is time to build from the ground up, to complement the progress that has been made at the national level”.
Mrs. Noorie Dudley of IDL noted “this program will lay a solid foundation for communities to significantly contribute to better management of Liberia’s forest for present and future generations, while accelerating socio-economic development in underserved forest communities
