Experience and Future of Community Forest Management Agreements Presented By: Saye Thompson Chairman, Blei JCFMB/ENNR Co-Management Committee

Table of Content Community Participation in the ENNR CFMAs in Northern Nimba Opportunities/Experiences in CF Management Unresolved Expectations Perspectives for CF Future in Liberia

Views of Northern Nimba Forest

Community Participation in the ENNR The East Nimba Nature Reserve (ENNR) became widely popular in Northern Nimba 2009/10 (Sept 18) – USAID-Liberia, through the LRCFP program, facilitated negotiations between the communities and FDA, resulting in the drafting and signing of a co-management arrangement for the ENNR 2010 – Demarcation of the ENNR, following improved communication between the government, conservation partners and the communities – Adjusted contested boundaries to accommodate closer communities farm land in April 2010

Community Participation in the ENNR Communities and FDA with support from partners mutually implement the co- management agreement of the ENNR With support from AML, FFI worked with communities and FDA to draft the ENNR Management Plan – signed in 2014 By laws and constitution for co-management committee is in place, in which the community serves as CHAIR Co-management committee consistently conduct outreach and awareness on the implementation of the management plan

CFMAs in Northern Nimba ESTABLISHMENT Three CFs established in Northern Nimba with support from USAID – Blei, Gba and Zor – The Blei CF evolved as a result of joint claims over the Blei forest – The Gba, Sehyi and Zor communities formed a JCFMB to jointly manage the CF through a special arrangement All three CFs signed their CFMAs in Oct Following the adoption of the CRL Regulation (2011), the CF governance bodies were restructured in 2013, with support from USAID-PROSPER, to make them compliant with the Regulations

CFMAs in Northern Nimba CAPACITY BUILDING Benefited from extensive and sustained training in forest management, fiscal management and conflict management by USAID-PROSPER – These skills have supported community members to attract jobs outside of the forest Participate in continuous education and outreach campaigns on CF issues – Include annual outreach campaigns and launching ceremonies in Monrovia Through Community Forest Guard system, monitor activity in and around the forests

CFMAs in Northern Nimba IMPROVED COMMUNITY PROFILE Developed a good rapport with the key private sector partner in Northern Nimba – Acelor Mittal Liberia – Constructed the CFMB offices – Consistently support CFMB programs, including the Community Forest Guard system – Consulted on community settlement issues – Compensated CF institutions feel well recognized by all partners – Participates in County development forums and activities – Become the reference point for community forestry in Liberia – Consulted by the GoL, donors, development partners, NGOs

CFMAs in Northern Nimba OPPORTUNITIES Informal employment for CF community members Increased community voice in decision making processes Ability to negotiate as a result of working as a collective governance institution – The Gba CF negotiated an MoU for the AML Tailing Management Facility, resulting in $150,000 and rights to harvest remaining timer Legitimate access high forest product through a forest management plan – NTFPs harvesting – Potential for low impact small-scale timber enterprise Eco-tourism potential

CFMAs in Northern Nimba - The Future Support communities to identify practical livelihood options alongside conservation of CF resources – Explore Conservation Agreements Research and improve the potential for ecotourism in the CFs, including facilities and sites Identify and support practical and sustainable farming systems such as agroforestry GOL support to enforce regulations and CF rules to prevent encroachments