By Ezekiel Geeplay
ezekielgeeplay.105.5@gmail.com
WACABA, SINOE – It appears that the National Union of Community Forest Management Bodies (NUCFMB) is unaware of the new logging contract signed between Dept Limited, a Liberian owned logging company and residents of Sewacajua Authorized Forest Community.
The new contract was signed in Gbalawin town, Wacaba Statutory District in Sinoe County on 30th September 2024 following the termination of contract with Mandra Forestry Liberia Limited in May 2024 on allegation of non-compliance. Under the Community Rights Law (CRL), communities have the right to control and manage their forests and its resources.
With this regulation, Sewacajua Forest Community, in May 2024, took the bold step to terminate their initial contract with Mandra on the basis of non-compliance, and subsequently initiated a new contract with Dept Limited on 30th September 2024.
But it appears that key officials of the National Union (NUCFMB) were not informed of the contractual arrangement between the people of Sewacajua Authorized Forest Community and Dept Limited. NUCFMB is the umbrella organization of unions charged with the responsibility to advocate and engage, as well supervise and monitor all activities between concession companies and authorized community forest to ensure full compliance.
The Union, through its National Facilitator, Bonathan Walaka said the union was never contacted and was not aware of Sewacajua’s new partnership with Dept Limited, noting the decision by the community was unilateral.
“Sewacajua recent agreement signed was done behind the back of the Union, and as such, we will not be able to monitor, supervise and advocate in the case where there is an issue between the community and the company” he explained.
Bonathan also accused the leadership of the Sewacajua’s Community Forest Management Body (CFMB) of not informing the National Union of plan to end their contract with Mandara, saying, “by law, before any forest community terminates or sign new contract, the union must be aware, but was never in the case of Sewacajua forest”.
The NUCFMB’s Facilitator questioned the process of hiring a new contractor and said that following the termination of commercial used contract with any company in keeping with the CRL, a notice of advertisement must be posted and more than three companies should apply for vetting. But to the contrary, Walaka said Sewacajua unilaterally selected Dept limited without going through the required steps. Liberia Forest Media Watch (LFMW) has not independently verified this claim made by the Union’s Facilitator.
He referenced a decision reached at the union’s 2022 General Assembly held in Gbarnga, Bong County in which participants agreed to involve the National Union into the termination of logging contracts and occasions regarding major management activities within community forests.
Bonathan also expressed concern over the constant violation of forest laws by community officials, mainly officials of the Executive Committee (EC) and CFMB most of whom are said to have abandoned their forest management responsibilities and are in Monrovia attending to personal matters.
“95% of forest officials in Southeast Liberia have abandoned their respective assignments and are residing in Monrovia and this is in total violation of the CRL of 2009 with respect to forest governance. This is wrong, the law says once you are elected as a member of the forest management body committee, you must reside within the forest affected community” Bonathan said.
He accused the leadership of Sewacajua’s CMFB of abandoning their official duties, and said this was probably one of the main reasons the Sewacajua’s community forest officials did not invite the Union to the signing ceremony of the new Memorandum of Understanding with Dept Limited
A probe by LFMW confirmed the Union’s claim of community forest officials abandoning their duties. For instance, the Chief Officer of Sewacajua Community Forest, Oliver C. Clarke is currently the Chief of Staff in the office of Sinoe County District #1 Representative, Thomas Romeo Quioh.
The 2009 Community Rights Law limits the involvement of government officials or individuals occupying influential positions in the management and control of community forest. Specifically, the CRL prohibits Community Assembly members from holding appointed positions. But in this same vein, the bylaws and constitutions of many forest communities forbid officials of the CFMB from holding appointed/influential positions and called for permanent stay in their respective communities in order to avoid gaps in leadership.
The position of the forest laws was validated by the Facilitator of the NUCFMB who said even a town chief should not hold position in community forest governance structures.
Community members who spoke to LFMW expressed concerns over the prolonged absence of community forest officials from the community, saying their absence is impeding the effective management of the community forests. They accused the officials of visiting the communities only during the signing ceremony of logging contracts or programs organized by the FDA, national and international partners.
But the Sewacajua CFMB’s Chief Officer, Oliver C. Clarke has argued that his current portfolio as Chief of Staff in the office of an elected Representative in no way violates the CRL with respect to forest governance. Commenting further on living outside of the community, and abandoning his job, Clarke said the law is clear and only restricts CA members to reside within the forest community and not officials of CFMB.
“The law is clear and only restricts CA who are binding to reside within the forest community, there is nothing there that says we as CFMB officers should live within the forest area” Clarke explained.
At the same time, Oliver Clarke has refuted allegations of failing to inform officials of the National Union about the signing ceremony of new contract with Dept Limited, noting, the union was duly informed and represented by its Regional Coordinator of the Southeast, Aloysius Saytue.
In May 2017, Sewacajua gained authorized community forest status with a total portion of land at 31,936 hectares. The CRL aims to empower communities to engage in the sustainable management of forest land. The law also gives communities the right to obtain a community forest Management (CFMA) for areas between 5,000 and 50,000 hectares.
