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liberia.png

Liberia

Assessment year: 2017

Total score 
4 out of 5
Policy score 
5 out of 5
Transparency score 
3 out of 5
Forest cover (1000ha): 
9,284
Forest cover date: 
2010
Forest loss (1000ha): 
386
Forest loss percentage: 
4%
Forest loss date range: 
2010-2014

Assessment year: 2015

Total score 
3 out of 5
Overall policy 
5 out of 5
Track record 
3 out of 5
Governance 
2 out of 5
Forest cover (1000ha): 
9,284
Forest cover date: 
2010
Forest loss (1000ha): 
274
Forest loss percentage: 
3%
Forest loss date range: 
2010-2013

Assessment year: 2014

Total score 
3 out of 5
Overall policy 
5 out of 5
Track record 
3 out of 5
Governance 
2 out of 5
Forest cover (1000ha): 
9,284
Forest cover date: 
2010
Forest loss (1000ha): 
119
Forest loss percentage: 
1%
Forest loss date range: 
2010-2012

Assessment year: 2016

Total score 
4 out of 5
Policy score 
5 out of 5
Transparency score 
3 out of 5
Forest cover (1000ha): 
9,284
Forest cover date: 
2010
Forest loss (1000ha): 
386
Forest loss percentage: 
4%
Forest loss date range: 
2010-2014
Jurisdiction type 
National forest jurisdiction
Commodities 
Palm oil, Timber

Collective commitments

New York Declaration on Forests signatory
Yes

50 Jurisdictions

To enable the transition to a deforestation free economy, jurisdictions need to adopt and implement governance, production and trade policies that favour sustainably produced commodities.

For analysis of how governments are performing click here.

This assessment has been carried out following the assessment methodology developed for the Forest 500 project.

Jurisdiction profile 

The primary drivers of forest loss in Liberia are shifting cultivation and agricultural expansion, affecting approximately 45% of forest areas. Liberia has over 622,000 hectares of land under palm oil concessions and although the majority of this is not yet planted, much of the land earmarked for development overlaps with dense, biodiversity-rich forest. Intensive logging throughout 25-30% of the forested landscape is significant and has undoubtedly played a central role in forest loss in Liberia.

Throughout the country’s conflict, timber exports were used to finance arms sales. Since the war, the government has attempted to reform the forestry sector and has begun drafting a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU. However, a legal loophole has allowed for a new wave of logging contracts, in the form of Private Use Permits (PUPs), to be signed. Between 2010 and 2012, PUPs were granted over around a quarter of the country, representing 40% of Liberia’s forests (some sources report up to 60%). PUPs contain no sustainability requirements and therefore essentially open the door for widespread forest clearing throughout the country.

Other jurisdictions

Colombia

Score
5 out of 5

Malaysia

Score
4 out of 5

Brazil

Score
4 out of 5

Liberia

Score
4 out of 5

Peru

Score
4 out of 5

Ecuador

Score
4 out of 5

Disclaimer

This assessment has been carried out following the methodology developed for the Forest 500 project, available here. Please see our disclaimer applicable to all information contained within this site and our citation guidance for advice on how to cite data presented here or elsewhere on this site.

Please contact us with any concerns or feedback about this or other assessments included in the Forest 500.

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  • About
    • How do we identify the 500?
    • How do we rank the 500?
    • Supporters
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • Rankings
    • Companies
    • Financial institutions
    • Jurisdictions
    • Other powerbrokers
  • Progress
    • Company Trends
    • Financial Institution Trends
    • Jurisdiction Trends
  • Blog
  • Reports