Project Summary

Boosting Biodiversity Conservation and Improving Livelihoods of Forest-Fringe/Forest-Dependent Communities and Groups in Liberia (CFPM) project is funded by Sweden and seeks to strengthen the management of community forests and protected areas in Liberia through improved governance of community forest management bodies, capacity building of forest regulatory institutions, empowerment of national CSOs/NGOs and Forest and Farm Producer Organizations, integrated natural resources management and the promotion of sustainable livelihood incentives for forest fringe communities. 

The project fits well under the National Forestry Policy and Implementation Plan and the National Forest Reform Law by promoting the sustainable management, conservation, protection, and sustainable development of Liberia forest; and optimizing the benefits of the forestry sector, with a focus on the contribution of the sector to poverty alleviation.

It is jointly implemented by UNDP and FAO, in partnership with the Forestry Development Authority as the government entity serving as the implementing partner in collaboration with a network of stakeholders, including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), private sector, forest and farm producer organizations (FFPOs), etc.

Objectives 

The project supports the implementation of the UN Decade on Ecosystems Restoration generating and sharing knowledge on best practices on forest management and forest landscape restoration; developing innovative financing mechanisms to unleash the economic potential of forest value chains as an incentive for improved management and restoration; building public awareness of the importance of forest ecosystems restoration; and building technical capacity of relevant institutions to lead the public in all the above. The objectives are consistent with Sweden’s Strategy for Development Cooperation, with Liberia’s 2021– 2025, Liberia’s National Determined Countries’ Contribution under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its National Biodiversity Action Plan, the Community Rights Law, etc. They are also aligned with the commitments articulated by both Sweden and Liberia at the recent UNFCCC COP26 regarding the sustainable use of forests, including measures that protect forest biodiversity. 

Components

• Enabling policy, governance framework, and institutional capacity.
• Promoting effective community-based management of PAs and INRM in the target landscapes.
• Creating and strengthening resilient, low-emission land management, equitable, non-timber forest product smallholder value chains through sustainable business.
• Development of forest and farm producers, and their organizations (e.g., cooperatives)
• Knowledge management, communication and awareness, gender mainstreaming, and monitoring & evaluation.

Expected Results 

• Strengthen institutional and community capacity, and regulatory framework for community forest management through training, provision of logistics, and technical backstopping. Working with authorized forest communities to update existing community forest management plans, reviewing relevant legal instruments, and submitting new instruments (as deemed appropriate) to the national government, to create an enabling environment for sustainable community forest management.

• Systematizing information on land and forests to facilitate strategic planning and decision-making. (ii) implement a comprehensive capacity development program for communities and other key institutions – including mainstreaming sustainable community-based forest and land management, and (iii) develop a national strategy for promoting community-based sustainable forest and land management. These will improve the habitat and status of key species, using participatory forest management and biodiversity conservation approaches. Protected Areas (PAs) are co-managed through tripartite arrangements. A community-based patrol and monitoring system initiated, to facilitate the restoration of degraded areas within PAs, affected by mining activities and unsustainable agricultural practices. Capacities of the communities and FDA strengthened through remote sensing technologies and carbon monitoring tools to promote forest monitoring, natural resource appraisal, and biodiversity assessment.

• Increased livelihood opportunities for communities by promoting climate-friendly income-generating activities. Support livelihood options for communities and strengthen capacities to become more climate-resilient through diversification, enterprise development, marketing, and access to finance using sustainable land and forest management and sustainable agricultural practices. Strengthen climate resilience and productivity for crop and livestock production, bee-keeping, and other non-agriculture, yet environmentally sustainable ventures. Support to improve livelihoods and sources of income diversified through the promotion of cash crop production, agro-forestry approach, and micro-enterprise development services, including cooperative systems, crop insurance schemes, and sustainable certification schemes. Provide value chain-specific, post-harvest services (storage, processing, packaging, testing/standardization) for MSMEs involved in agriculture (food crop) and livestock enterprises. Support increased access to finance and market linkage opportunities to enhance community-based production and value addition enterprises across all sectors.

• Facilitate strengthening of a knowledge management system to support gender-balanced community forest management and co-management of PAs by communities. Products, resources, and content generated will be disseminated. Facilitate the generation of products based on lessons and best practices, using online repositories and community-friendly platforms. These resource materials will be shared and maintained through collaboration with stakeholders. Support the dissemination of knowledge content and material through user-friendly, multimedia outlets. Monitoring, evaluation, and learning tools that are gender-mainstreamed and participatory will be used, to support the development and dissemination of knowledge management products for all outputs.   

Achievements

• 30 forest-based enterprises trained to receive grants up to US$10,000 each to stimulate their businesses.
• Increased capacity of institutions and communities to report corruption through a digital tool – the Talkay.
• Increased community participation in biodiversity conservation. 
• 80 Eco-guards equipped and now supporting FDA rangers in biomonitoring to reduce biodiversity threats.
• Improved livelihoods and food security for more than 150 farmers (110 women) through the System for Rice Intensification.
• FDA operations capacity boosted with 25 motorbikes and other equipment to increase mobility and biodiversity monitoring and management.
• Increased economic benefit of 30 members (24 female) of the crafts group.
• Improved conservation approach through the Cocoa/Plantain/Pigeon pea Agroforestry system in Lofa County.

QUICK FACTS

Project Document