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3.99. The new law [the new Liberia Plant Pesticides Regulatory Services Bureau Act] applies to the authorization, marketing, use, safety and control of pesticides and bio-pesticides. (...)

3.148. In particular, the IPDP [Intellectual Property Development Plan] identified seven key sectors for the effective utilization of IP in Liberia to enhance export growth potential, enhance job creation, increase access to knowledge in all sectors, contribute to poverty reduction through job creation, and enhance exploitation of locally available resources. These seven sectors are:
(...)
vi. environment – ways of mitigating climate change and incorporation of green economy; and
(...)

4.29. (...) Liberia is richly endowed with forestry resources (Table 4.3). According to the National Forest Inventory of 2018-19, the forest cover was about 6.6 million hectares or almost 60% of the landmass (11.1 million hectares). Liberia's forests have been under threat from shifting cultivation and mining, as well as uncontrolled and illegal logging. [28]
[28] Forest Carbon Partnership, Liberia: National Forest Inventory 2018/2019.

4.32. The Forest Development Authority (FDA) is responsible for managing Liberia's forestry resources. The legal framework comprises the FDA Ten Core Regulations 101-07 to 110-07 (2007) that implement the National Forestry Reform Law. Other laws and regulations include the Regulation on Forest Products Processing and Marketing (FDA Regulation No. 112-08); Guidelines for Forest Management Planning in Liberia (2009); the Community Rights Law (2009); Code of Forest Harvesting Practices (amended in 2017); Community Rights Regulations (amended in 2017); Abandoned Logs, Timber and Timber Products Regulations (2017); Third Party Access to Forest Resource License Areas (2017); Confiscated Logs, Timber and Timber Products Regulations (2017); and Sustainable Wood-based Biomass Energy Production and Marketing in Liberia Regulations (2017).

4.33. (...) However, following an arrangement with Norway aimed at slowing deforestation in Liberia, from 2014, all logging concessions were reviewed or cancelled, and no new concessions have since been awarded. A number of Community Forest Management Agreements were subsequently signed with authorized communities.

4.34. The following are the main types of concessions/agreements for logging operations [37] :
[37] There is also a Forest Use Permit and Private Use Permit.
(...)
• Community Forest Management Agreements (CFMAs) are from 5.0 hectares to 49.999 hectares; CFMAs exceeding 50.0 hectares are subject to competitive bidding. CFMAs are to be sustainably managed (selective logging) and concluded for 15 years, renewable. (...)

4.35. The forestry resource tax regime under FDA [the Forest Development Authority] Core Regulation 107-7 includes:
• Stumpage fees: (...)
• Land rental fees: (...)
• Export taxes: (...)

4.36. The forest sector reform under EO No. 1 of 2006 called for the establishment of a chain of custody system that tracks logging operations from stump to the point of export. The Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) was mandated to develop and administer a computerized chain of custody system, called LiberFor.

4.37. Exports of logs (timber) and wood products require a licence for every export permit (USD 100 per consignment) issued by the FDA [the Forest Development Authority] (FDA Regulation 107-7, Section 42(c)). The FDA together with the SGS [the Société Générale de Surveillance] issues export permits for timber upon confirmation that the shipment originates from a registered harvesting area and all relevant forest payments have been made to the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL).

4.38. A Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the European Union entered into force on 1 December 2013. However, Liberia is still in the process of developing the mechanisms to meet EU requirements for the control, verification, and licensing of exports of timber and wood products. The objective is to implement a FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) licensing scheme, comprising the establishment within the FDA of a Timber Legality Verification Department and a Liberia Licensing Department (set up in 2021) for issuing FLEGT Licences.