Researchers participating in Rights and Resources Initiative's project "Alternative Tenure and Enterprise Models for Pro-Poor Growth in Central and West Africa" gather in Monrovia" Liberia to review and finalize enterprise case studies" and to share their initial findings in a public seminar" organized and hosted by Green Adovocates and the University of Liberia.

Presentations provide detailed information on and analyses of alternative forest enterprises in Ghana" Cameroon" the Gambia" the Democratic Republic of Congo" Rwanda" Burundi and Burkina Faso as well as Sweden" Canada and Guatemala. The seminar provides an opportunity for Liberian academics" researchers" policy makers" government representatives" forest enterprise leaders and members of civil society active in the forest sector to learn of alternative models within and outside of Africa. It aims to foster discussion of such alternatives and promote the development of locally-led networks and initiatives to advance pro-poor forestry-based economic growth in Liberia.

Resources

• Agenda
  
• List of Presenters

Media coverage

Read more about this event and see a list of articles from media coverage in Liberian newspapers here.

Photographs

             

   

After presenting findings from case studies on alternative tenure and enterprise models" speakers gathered with members of the University of Liberia student union" who helped to organize the seminar.

Augusta Molnar" Rights and Resources Director of Communities and Markets" gives opening remarks on alternatives to large-scale concessions.

Cleto Ndikumagenge of IUCN" Cameroon" shares findings from case studies of Neem and Moringa medicinal enterprises in Rwanda and Burundi.

                                                                                                                                  


 



















Mercy Owusu Ansah of the Ghana Forest Commission and Elizabeth Ashamu" Rights and Resources Africa Program Coordinator.





























Francis Colee of Green Advocates shares preliminary findings of his research on the informal and illegal pitsawing sector" that provides employment and income" and supplies the entire Liberian domestic market for sawn wood. He recommended recognition and regulation of pitsawing operations and called for policy changes and support to improve the efficiency of their operations and their contributions to national and local revenues. 

Wallace Kwame Koomson of Adwenase community forest in Ghana travelled to Sweden where he conducted research on family and community owned forests" which are the predominant form of forest tenure in Sweden. He told of the lessons he learned through his travel" field visits and interviews that he will bring back  and apply in Ghana.



Photographs courtesy of Abbas Dorley of New Democrat Newspaper.