By Ezekiel Geeplay, ezekielgeeplay.105.5@gmail.co
SINOE COUNTY, Liberia- The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) Customary Land Division has begun a Customary Land Stakeholder engagement process on the Customary Land Formalization (CLF) in collaboration with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) around the Proposed Kwa National Park in the southeastern Sinoe County.
The LLA Customary Land Division 20-day stakeholders’ engagement symposium is being sponsored by the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF) Fund.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Peajadoe-EMI Town, Mr. Ezekiel B. Weah of the Customary Land Division and Department of Land Administration, said the engagement or consultation is intended to highlight matters related to the Customary Land Formalization (CLF) process in Tonee, Peajadoe, Planhsonjah, and Judo Administrative Districts in Sione County.
He used the occasion to call on community dwellers to remain peaceful in identifying their borders or boundaries during the Customary Land Formalization (CLF) process.
Mr. Weah thanked the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF), USAID, and the Forestry Development Authority for their numerous support to the LLA.
He also pledged the Chairman and the Board of Commissioners of the LLA’s commitment to upholding the Land Right Act of 2018 in Liberia.
Mr. Weah said that the engagement would also formalize the buffer zone and other important processes and procedures for the formalization of customary land rights to key stakeholders as required by the Land Rights Law of 2018.
Customary Land Formalization needed
In remarks, Wild Chimpanzee Foundation National Consultant, Madam Toushi Itoka, said her institution was requested by the government of Liberia to lead the gazettement process of the proposed Kwa National Park (PKNP).
Madam Itoka
She added: “We started the process, but we could not continue, because we needed to do the Customary Land Formalization (CLF) process for communities around the proposed Park before we continue, so that is while we are here with the LLA, FDA and our partner the USAID to inform you about the process.”
She revealed that WCF is an organization working for the conservation of Biodiversity and inclusion of local communities in natural resources management in West Africa and is supporting the gazettement process for the Proposed Kwa National Park in Sinoe County, Liberia.
Madam Itoka said even though they are leading the gazettement process, but they want the communities to complete the CLF and get a deed for their land before completing the gazettement package.
“We have livelihood package for the communities that we have sent to the FDA, LLA, and lawmakers for their input,” Madam Itoka added.
USAID pleased with stakeholders’ engagement
For his part, USAID Natural Resources Project Manager, Mr. Saah A. Davis, Jr, lauded the Liberia Land Authority and its partners for organizing such an engagement symposium with stakeholders in Sinoe County.
He said the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) and the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) collaboration define the scope of land formalization for customary lands.
Prior to the enactment of the Land Rights Acts (LRA) in 2018, the issue of land tenure across these forest landscapes was unclassified, as ownership of forests was only granted unclassified by the government through the Community Rights Law with Respect to Forests Land (CRL).
The Land Rights Act (LRA) recognizes proposed protected areas and protected areas existing before its enactment and are generally considered Government Land.
The ongoing stakeholder engagement in the Customary Land Formalization process around the Proposed Kwa National Park in Sinoe County commenced on September 27 to October 10, 2024.