Forest Sector 

Liberia possesses rich forest resources and is considered the most forested country in the West African region, with 69% of Liberia’s land surface covered by forests. Liberia is believed to be the only country in the region that was historically covered entirely with rain forest. Liberia’s forest is made up of approximately 6.69 million hectares (Mha) of lowland tropical forest that comprise 43% of the remaining Upper Guinea forests of West Africa.

Despite the high rate of deforestation, forestry resources still provide a vital ecosystem to inhabitants of rural Liberian communities. They also contribute to the national economy and provide rich bio-diverse home to multiple species of flora and fauna. Forests provide a crucial source of income, jobs, and food security for households as almost half of the population who live within 2.5 kilometers of a forest earn 35% of their income from the forest. Furthermore, Liberia’s forests are home to 881 known fauna species, out of which 0.8% are endemic and 4.2% threatened, plus c. 2,200 flora species of vascular plants, 4.7% of which are endemic. 

Liberian forests represent more than half of the remaining rain forests in the West Africa region and are mostly characterized by moist evergreen forests and semi-deciduous forests (predominantly in the north). Liberia remains the only country in the West African sub-region where a significant portion (43%) of the remaining Upper Guinea forest ecosystem can be identified and measured in practical sense. Liberia's forests are recognized by the international community as sensitive areas, making them a focus for conservation efforts worldwide.

Forested land covered around 7.6 million hectares in 2020, thus representing about 68% of Liberia’s total surface. The vast majority of these forested lands are primary or otherwise naturally regenerated forest, with just 8,000 ha of planted forest.[1]

The Protected Forest Area Network Act (2003) aims to cover at least 30% of the existing forest area of Liberia, representing around 1.5 million hectares. According to Fauna & Flora of Liberia and other sources, Liberia currently has five main protected forest areas: the Sapo National Forest (Sinoe County), the East Nimba Nature Reserve (Nimba County), the Lake Piso Multiple Use Reserve, the Gola National Forest Park (Gbarpolu County) and the Grebo-Krahn National Park (River Gee County/Sinoe). These areas cover a total area of 454,800 ha, which represents 4.1 % of the country’s area.

Reports have indicated that hunters, loggers, and miners have largely impacted these conserved forests. Efforts are underway to protect additional areas and to link existing protected regions by using the forests that lie between them. It has been estimated that between 1900 and 2010, Liberia lost about 12.2 percent of its forest to deforestation. Notwithstanding the high rate of deforestation, forestry resources still provide critical ecosystem services to humans especially nearby communities, economic benefits to the national economy and rich biodiversity to multiple species. Forest provides crucial source of income, jobs, and food security for households as half of the population who lives within 2.5 kilometers of a forest earns 35 percent of their incomes from the forest. Further, Liberia’s forests are home to 881 known fauna species,of which 0.8% are endemic and 4.2% threatened; and at least 2,200 flora species of vascular plants, of which 4.7% are endemic.

Liberia has five ‘Wetlands of International Importance’ designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Mount Nimba was recently designated an ‘Alliance for Zero Extinction’ Site, while the ‘Upper Guinea Rivers and Streams’ WWF Global 200 site that straddles the border of Liberia is recognized as a critical region for freshwater conservation. A proposed protected area and the closest to gazettement, Wonegezi Forest, is a pilot site for the REDD+ program in Liberia.

The number of proposed areas for protection continues to increase pursuant to the discovery of the presence of endangered species and of diminishing ecosystems. The GoL response resulted in the ratification of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

The current deforestation rate in Liberia is estimated at 30,000 ha / year (-0.7%), with conversion for agriculture, uncontrolled logging and mining being the main drivers of deforestation.

According to the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) biennial review, the Liberian industry produced about 451,000 m3 of industrial round wood in 2020, with a sharp decrease of almost 100,000 m3 (-18%) compared to 2018 production. Yet, the majority of the wood production, including firewood and wood for construction, is used in the domestic market and is largely unregistered. The civil war (1989–2003) destroyed the forest industry and rural infrastructure, and consequently round logs currently account for the bulk of export volumes.

Timber is mostly exported via the main ports of the country: the Freeport of Monrovia and the ports of Buchanan, Greenville and Harper (near Pedebo, a crossing point to Ivory Coast). While Harper and Greenville are known as main outlets for the timber industry, only containerized logs and processed-wood products can be shipped out of Monrovia, while the three other ports accept both logs (in bulk) and containerized logs or products. Containerization is becoming the most popular export method out of Liberia. Only self-loading ships operate in Liberia as ships cannot berth at Harper. As a result, logs and timber products must be transferred to the ships by barges or rafts of floating logs.