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FSC unveils Interim Forest Stewardship Standard to strengthen sustainable forest management in Liberia – EnviroNews
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The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has published an Interim Forest Stewardship Standard (IFSS) for Liberia, providing a framework to promote responsible forest management while helping forest managers, companies and communities meet national legal requirements and international sustainability standards.
The new standard comes as Liberia seeks to balance the economic importance of its forestry sector with the need to protect its globally significant forest ecosystems and biodiversity.
Liberia is the most forested country in West Africa, accounting for more than half of the region’s remaining rainforests. Its forests make up about 42 per cent of the Upper Guinean Forest, one of West Africa’s most important biodiversity hotspots, known for its rich ecosystems and numerous endemic species.
Data from Global Nature Watch indicates that Liberia had approximately 8.8 million hectares of natural forest in 2020, covering more than 91 per cent of the country’s land area. However, the country lost about 420,000 hectares of humid primary forest between 2002 and 2025, representing a 10 per cent decline during the period.
The forestry sector remains an important contributor to Liberia’s economy, accounting for about 10 per cent of annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and directly employing approximately 10,400 people.
Gertrude Nyaley, Deputy Managing Director of Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority (FDA), said responsible forest management and FSC certification could contribute significantly to the country’s sustainable development objectives.
“Responsible forest management and FSC certification can play a critical role in achieving Liberia’s sustainable development goals,” she said.
Nyaley also stressed the importance of cooperation between government and FSC in ensuring that sustainable forest management practices are effectively implemented and biodiversity protected.
“Collaboration between the government and FSC is crucial for the successful implementation of sustainable practices and the protection of biodiversity,” she said.
Standard supports legal compliance
The FSC developed the IFSS between July 2022 and July 2024 in accordance with its procedure for developing interim national standards.
The process involved stakeholder consultations, including workshops held in Monrovia on August 16, 2023, and online on April 29, 2024. Two 60-day public consultations were also conducted between February and July 2024.
The new standard is expected to help Liberia respond to growing international requirements for deforestation-free and responsibly sourced products, including requirements under the European Union’s Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR).
At the national level, the IFSS provides guidance for forest managers, companies and communities to implement responsible forestry practices in accordance with Liberia’s legal and institutional framework.
This includes the 1984 Constitution, the National Forestry Reform Law (NFRL) of 2006 and the FDA’s Ten Core Regulations of 2007.
The standard applies to state, community and privately owned forests and covers the various forest rights and licensing arrangements established under the NFRL, including forest management contracts, timber sales contracts and forest use permits.
Internationally, the IFSS supports Liberia’s commitments under a range of environmental and labour agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Ramsar Convention, International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions and the International Tropical Timber Agreement.
It also supports Liberia’s implementation of its Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the European Union, signed in 2011, including efforts to establish a timber legality assurance system.
Nyaley said protecting Liberia’s forests had become increasingly important amid climate change and growing demand for sustainable products in international markets.
“Protecting Liberia’s forests is critical because they serve many purposes for humankind, especially in the face of global climate change. If we do not protect our forests, we risk so much on this planet,” she said.
She added that FSC certification and group certification could enable small-scale forest owners and producers to collectively meet sustainability and traceability requirements while gaining access to international markets.
Balancing conservation and livelihoods
According to Nyaley, the new standard would help strengthen traceability and responsible sourcing while ensuring that forest-dependent communities can continue to benefit from forest resources.
The FSC said the IFSS provides a practical framework for protecting Liberia’s forests while supporting economic development, community livelihoods and responsible participation in international markets.
By strengthening sustainable forest management and responsible sourcing across the supply chain, the standard is expected to help preserve the environmental, social, cultural and economic functions of Liberia’s forests for future generations.
Francis Nwah, representing Liberia’s Ministry of Agriculture, underscored the need to balance current economic needs with the responsibility to preserve forests for future generations.
“In Liberia, we say ‘eat some and keep some’. Do not raid the forest for the coming generation,” Nwah said.
He noted that forests remain central to the livelihoods and cultural identity of many rural Liberians, providing food and medicine while also serving important cultural and spiritual functions.
The launch of the IFSS therefore marks a significant step towards strengthening responsible forestry in Liberia, with the potential to improve forest governance, protect biodiversity and support sustainable economic opportunities for forest-dependent communities.
