The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), along with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), participated in a joint field mission of Heads of Mission from the European Union (EU) and Member States to Grand Cape Mount County from 13–14 April 2026.

The field mission, led by the European Union Delegation to Liberia, including representatives of France, Ireland, Sweden, and Germany, aims to provide firsthand insight into EU-supported development investments across western Liberia, with a particular focus on sustainable natural resource management, livelihoods, and community development.

As part of the mission, the Embassy of Sweden spotlighted results from the Community-Based Forestry and Protected Area Management (CBFM) Project, implemented jointly by UNDP and FAO in collaboration with the FDA. The project promotes sustainable forest management, strengthens biodiversity conservation, and enhances livelihoods for forest-dependent and forest-fringe communities.

Demonstrating Results in Community Forestry and Restoration

During the visit, the ambassadors engaged directly with communities benefiting from the CBFM project in and around Lake Piso in Grand Cape Mount County. These engagements highlighted progress in community forestry governance, ecological restoration, and livelihood initiatives.

Mr. Bai Sherman, the Coordinator of Culture and Tradition of Grand Cape Mount County, noted that while the community initially had concerns, consistent engagement and amicable discussions led to the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This agreement empowers the community to own and protect the forest as their own. He expressed gratitude to the Government of Liberia, UNDP, and FAO, noting that residents are now earning a sustainable living through their involvement with the forest restoration techniques introduced by the project. FAO is leading the ecological restoration activities within the Lake Piso Multiple Sustainable Use Reserve. 

On another note, in December 2024, the UNDP and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) handed over a solar-powered eco-guesthouse to the Mutamu Women Group in Sembehun. This initiative generates income for over 1,000 residents and is complemented by interventions like Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), which further boost household financial stability. This project was also highlighted during the EU Delegation’s engagement with Sembehun.  

In Gbarma Lumeh, the community supported through FAO and The Nature Compact has advanced to Step 9 of the national community forest authorization process and is nearing approval of its forest management agreement. Livelihood activities, including the establishment of VSLAs, have been introduced to sixty women to strengthen household resilience and income generation.

At Bambala, with UNDP’s support through the CBFM Project, the community has been organized into a full-fledged cooperative society and is now involved in various income-generating activities. 

Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Forest Management

Liberia is home to an estimated 6.6 million hectares of forest, rich in biodiversity but under increasing pressure from fuelwood dependence, conversion to agricultural areas, limited livelihood alternatives, and weak law enforcement capacities. Through the CBFM Project, UNDP and FAO are addressing these challenges by strengthening policy and institutional frameworks for community forestry, promoting inclusive management of protected areas, supporting resilient and low-emission livelihoods, and enhancing knowledge management, gender mainstreaming, and monitoring systems.

The joint EU field mission provided a platform to demonstrate early results of these interventions, promote dialogue between communities and international partners, and strengthen collaboration among EU Member States, UN agencies, and national institutions.

Through the CBFM Project, UNDP and FAO are addressing these realities by:

• Strengthening policy and institutional frameworks for community forestry

• Promoting inclusive and gender-responsive management of protected areas

• Supporting low emission, climate-resilient livelihoods

• Enhancing monitoring, learning, and knowledge systems

The joint EU field mission served as a powerful platform to demonstrate early results, elevate community voices, and reinforce collaboration between EU Member States, UN agencies, and Liberian institutions.

Looking Ahead

The visit is expected to:

• Increase visibility and strategic attention to community-based forestry and restoration initiatives in Liberia,

• Strengthen partnerships among development partners and government institutions supporting sustainable forest management and

• Boost local morale and interest in community forestry and conservation efforts.

UNDP remains committed to working with partners and communities to ensure Liberia’s forests continue to generate livelihoods, resilience, and opportunity—with communities firmly at the center of forest governance and natural resource management.