In a powerful message delivered on his behalf by Dr. Augustine Konneh, Senior Advisor to the President, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to accountability, truth, and reform in Liberia’s forestry sector during the opening of the three-day National Forest Forum 2025 held on Monday, November 3, at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
Speaking Monday to an audience that included members of the cabinet, diplomatic corps, international partners, and representatives of the private sector and civil society, President Boakai described the forum as an “important space for reflection, dialogue, and collective commitment” toward safeguarding Liberia’s rich forest heritage—one of the largest remaining blocks of the Upper Guinea Forest.
The President noted that despite decades of international support and national attention, Liberia’s forest sector has yet to deliver on its full promise of social, economic, and environmental dividends for its people.
“We have seen repeated promises, fragmented interventions, and cycles of underperformance,” the President said in his statement, lamenting the persistent weaknesses in forest institutions, the inconsistency in law enforcement, and the rise of illegal activities and encroachments that continue to threaten the country’s biodiversity and natural capital.
President Boakai declared that, under his leadership, the forestry sector will be rebuilt on the pillars of integrity, data-driven policy, and community benefit. “The forest must once again become a pillar of Liberia’s sustainable growth, contributing meaningfully to job creation, climate resilience, and environmental stability,” he emphasized.
In one of the most striking portions of his address, the President ordered the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) to provide, within one week, a full explanation and reconciliation of discrepancies in Liberia’s official forest data. According to him, while the 2004 National Forest Inventory says Liberia’s forest cover at 4.3 million hectares, recent reports now claim an increase to 6.6 million hectares—a difference of over 2.3 million hectares. “Where are these new forest areas located and what accounts for such a dramatic change?” the President asked, underscoring the need for factual, transparent, and scientifically sound data.
“This is not a trivial matter,” he cautioned, pointing out that “Accurate data is the foundation for sound policymaking, credible forest management, and effective international engagement.”
The President emphasized that truth and transparency are non-negotiable if Liberia is to earn the trust of its citizens and global partners in forest governance.
The directive, he said, reflects his broader vision to make Liberia’s forest a model of responsible stewardship—balancing conservation, sustainable use, and rural development in line with his ARREST Agenda for Accelerated and Inclusive Development.
President Boakai concluded his statement with a charge to the forum’s participants to engage in “productive and honest” deliberations that will yield tangible results for the nation.
Also speaking at the forum, the Managing Director of FDA, Rudolph J. Merab, said, “It has been 19 years of the reforms and we see no improvement, our forest has been destroyed by illicit activities and claims of individual interests over and above our national interest.
“But let us admit the bitter truth: we have failed. The forest sector which was a gateway to the economy has collapsed.
“Our forestry revenues have collapsed, from over $ 40 million before the war, to less than $5 million in 2024, and projections of under $ 5 million in 2025,” Merab said. “That is not just a decline; it is a disaster and a disgrace, and, it does not present the truth worth of our forest nor, does it provide the needed revenue to adequately manage the forest.”
According to Merab, before the war, Liberia’s forests were the pride of West Africa. “The world came to Liberia for timber, our rural people had jobs,” FDA’s boss pointed out. “Our nation saw growth.”
However, he added, the wars, the sanctions, finally collapsed the sector, which caused the forests to be misused.
The 2025 National Forest Forum, organized by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), gathered key stakeholders under the theme of transparency and sustainable management—aligning perfectly with the President’s call for a new era of truth-based forest governance in Liberia.
