July 31″ 2008 – Monrovia –

The NGO Coalition for Liberia has sounded a warning that the Government of Liberia is threatening its own reform process and risking the rule of law in the forest sector. Key decisions over the last few months could undermine efforts to re-establish rule of law in the Liberian forest sector and threaten communities in logging districts. The coalition warns that the forest sector is slipping back into “old ways” of doing business” and if these trends are not checked the country will once-again be exposed to widespread illegal logging.

NGO Coalition for Liberia is also concerned that the government's decision to allocate three contracts for forests in Bokomu and Gou Nwolaila Districts violates the rights of the communities in those districts. Communities have made it clear that they would resist any attempt to log in their forest areas without their consent” presenting a resolution to county officials in the presence of the FDA Managing Director and senior officials” a representative of the UN Mission in Liberia” and representatives of several logging companies. By refusing to address the communities' concerns” the FDA is creating a situation that will pitch the communities against the companies that have been granted contracts in the area.

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More from the NGO Coalition for Liberia: Reform in Jeopardy: Reflections on the forest sector reform process in Liberia