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Liberia Forest Concession Review: Phase II

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In 2014, the Government of Norway signed a Letter of Intent with the Government of Liberia (GoL) promising US$150 million to support sustainable development that reduces deforestation and forest degradation. As part of the agreement, the GoL is required to complete an independent investigation that examines the legality of existing logging contracts.

The GoL contracted Forest Trends to finalize the independent concession review begun by Sofreco. As outlined by the Forestry Development Authority’s Managing Director, the Liberia Forest Concession Review: Phase II (LFCRII) aims to: take stock and update the findings from previous reviews on the legality of the award of existing logging contracts, their planning and management, and their logging operations; establish a transparent process to share and update these results; and “help to find negotiated solutions for cases that do not call for more serious consequences under Liberian Law.”

The final report of the LFRCRII is divided into two documents:

  1. The main report, which contains:
    • A description of Liberia’s legislative framework with respect to industrial forestry;
    • A status update of Forest Resource Licenses;
    • A review of compliance with the recommendations of previous independent reviews;
    • A compliance review of 11 Forest Resource Licenses; and,
    • Recommendations for Corrective Actions that will prevent the further violation of forestry’s legislative framework.
  2. Volume 2, which contains a detailed compliance review for each License in the scope of the LFCRII review, i.e., the individual “Case Briefs.”

In addition to the final report, the LFRCII has made the background documents publicly available, including links to:

  • Liberia’s legislative framework with respect to forestry, including:
    • Policies, strategies, etc.;
    • Laws; and,
    • Regulations.
  • Dossiers on each of the 11 cases in the scope of the LFRCII review. Each folder contains all the documentary evidence provided by the FDA and Operators, including, for example, Licenses and contracts, performance bonds, planning documents, etc., as available.
  • Previous independent reviews by:
    • Sofreco in 2020;
    • The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative 2013 audit on the allocation process for forestry Licenses; and,
    • The Presidential Special Independent Investigative Body report from 2012 on Private Use Permits (PUPs).
  • A library of other relevant documents collated by the LFCRII.
Concessions Reviewed by LFCRII
Concessions within the Scope of the LFCRII
FMCs
FMC P - Atlantic Resources
Atlantic-Resources-Inc-FMC-P-Final-Dossier.docx Atlantic-social-agreement-Grand-Kru-Maryland-River-Gee-2010.pdf Atlantic-social-agreement-Grand-Kru-Maryland-River-Gee-2015.pdf Atlantic-social-agreement-Grand-Kru.pdf SOFRECO-review-Atlantic.pdf Atlantic-financials.docx Atlantic-FMC-Grand-Cape.pdf Atlantic-FMC-Grand-Kru-Maryland-River-Gee.pdf
Documents shared by FDA
Atlantic-environmental-permit.pdf Atlantic-harvest-certificate.pdf Atlantic-performance-bond.pdf Atlantic-pre-qualification-certificate-scaled.jpg Atlantic-tax-clearance-certificate.pdf Atlantic-25-year-management-plan.pdf Atlantic-all-social-agreements.pdf Atlantic-annual-operations-plan-2017-18.pdf Atlantic-articles-of-incorporation.pdf Atlantic-certificate-of-business-registration.pdf
FMC K - ICC
ICC-social-agreement-Grand-Gedeh_2.pdf ICC-social-agreement-Nimba.pdf ICC-social-agreement-River-Cess.pdf LEITI-review-ICC.pdf SDI-briefing-ICC.pdf SOFRECO-review-ICC.pdf USAID-review-ICC.pdf ICC-financials.docx ICC-FMC-1.pdf ICC-social-agreement-Grand-Gedeh-Nimba-River-Cess.pdf ICC-social-agreement-Grand-Gedeh_1.pdf
Documents shared by FDA
ICC-EPA.pdf ICC-FMC.pdf ICC-performance-bond.pdf ICC-pre-qualification-certificate.pdf ICC-re-entry-approval.pdf ICC-socioeconomic-survey.jpg ICC-tax-clearance-certificate.pdf ICC-amended-articles-of-incorporation.pdf ICC-annual-harvest-certificate-2019-20.png ICC-beneficial-ownership.pdf ICC-certificate-of-business-registration.pdf
FMC I - Geblo Logging Inc
Geblo-full-contract.pdf LEITI-review-Geblo.pdf SOFRECO-review-Geblo.pdf Geblo-financials.docx Geblo-FMC-1.pdf
Documents shared by FDA
Geblo-beneficial-ownership.pdf Geblo-certificate-of-business-registration.pdf Geblo-EPA.pdf Geblo-FMC.pdf Geblo-harvest-certificate-2021-22.pdf Geblo-performance-bond.pdf Geblo-pre-qualification-certificate.pdf Geblo-social-agreement-Grand-Gedeh.pdf Block-map-2-scaled.jpg Geblo-5-year-management-plan.pdf Geblo-annual-operations-plan.pdf Geblo-articles-of-incorporation.pdf
FMC F - Euro Liberia Logging Co
Euro-River-Gee-agreement-minutes.pdf Euro-social-agreement-Grand-Gedeh-1.pdf Euro-social-agreement-River-Gee.pdf LEITI-review-Euro.pdf SOFRECO-review-Euro.pdf USAID-review-Euro.pdf Euro-financials.docx Euro-FMC-1.pdf
Documents shared by FDA
Euro-articles-of-incorporation.pdf Euro-certificate-of-business-registration.jpeg Euro-FMC.pdf Euro-harvest-certificate.jpg Euro-performance-bond.pdf Euro-social-agreement-Grand-Gedeh.pdf Euro-tax-clearance-certificate.pdf Block-map-1-scaled.jpg Euro-5-year-forest-management-plan.pdf Euro-annual-operations-plan-2022-23.pdf
Documents shared by Euro Liberia Logging Co
Euro-motion-to-dismiss.pdf Euro-performance-bond-2022.pdf Euro-performance-bond-2023.pdf Euro-sawmill-EPA.pdf Euro-social-agreement-Grand-Gedeh-2016.pdf Euro-social-agreement-Grand-Gedeh-2022.pdf Euro-social-agreement-River-Gee-2015.pdf Euro-social-agreement-River-Gee-2022.pdf Euro-tax-credit-certificate-2017.pdf Euro-tax-credit-certificate-2018.pdf Euro-tax-credit-certificate-2019_1.pdf Euro-tax-credit-certificate-2019_2.pdf Euro-tax-credit-certificate-2022.pdf Euro-FDA-correspondence-2013.pdf Euro-FDA-sawmill-correspondence.pdf FDA-response-letter.pdf Force-majeure-letter-2017.pdf Force-majeure-letter-Dec-2015.pdf Force-majeure-letter-Oct-2015.pdf Land-rental-letter.pdf Sawmill-EPA-review-letter.pdf Sawmill-letter.pdf Bid-premium-suspension-act.pdf Bid-premiums-letter-2020.pdf Bid-premiums-letter-2021.pdf CFDC-cash-receipt-Dec-2022.jpg CFDC-cash-receipt-Feb-2023_1.jpg CFDC-cash-receipt-Feb-2023_2.jpg CFDC-cash-receipt-Jan-2023_1.jpg CFDC-cash-receipt-Jan-2023_2.jpg CFDC-cash-receipt-Jan-2023_3.jpg CFDC-deposit-receipt-Dec-2022_1.jpg CFDC-deposit-receipt-Dec-2022_2.jpg CFDC-deposit-receipt-Sep-Oct-2022.jpg CFDC-payment-request-Jan-2023.jpg CFDC-payment-request-Oct-2022.pdf CFDC-payment-request-Sep-2022.pdf Euro-authorization-request.pdf Euro-CFDC-accounting.xlsx Euro-EAR.pdf Euro-EPA-2014.pdf Euro-EPA-2017.pdf Euro-EPA-2021.pdf Euro-EPA-attestation-letter.pdf Euro-follow-up-request.pdf Euro-FT-dossier-response.pdf Euro-harvest-certificate-2014-15.pdf Euro-harvest-certificate-2015-16.pdf Euro-harvest-certificate-2018-19_1.pdf Euro-harvest-certificate-2018-19_2.pdf Euro-harvest-certificate-2019-20.pdf Euro-labor-survey-Q1-2023.pdf Euro-ledger.xlsx PWC-ELL-letter-for-deduction-LRA-acknowledged-copy.pdf PWC-letter-for-ELL.pdf
Correspondence with LFCRII
ELL-REPLY-TO-F.-Trends-Observations-on-Dec-5-.-2023.pdf ELL-RESPONSE-TO-FOREST-TRENDS-FINAL-REPORT-NOV.-2023.pdf
FMC A - Alpha Logging
Alpha-social-agreement-Lofa-1.pdf CSIFM-briefing-2015.pdf LEITI-review-Alpha.pdf SDI-briefing-2022.pdf SOFRECO-review-Alpha.pdf Alpha-financials.docx Alpha-FMC-1.pdf Alpha-full-contract.pdf Alpha-social-agreement-Gbarpolu.pdf
Documents shared by FDA
Alpha-certificate-of-business-registration-scaled.jpg Alpha-EPA.pdf Alpha-ESIS.pdf Alpha-FMC.pdf Alpha-harvest-certificate.pdf Alpha-performance-bond.pdf Alpha-social-agreement-Lofa.pdf Alpha-25-year-management-plan.pdf Alpha-annual-operations-plan-2021-22.pdf
Documents added after the close of LFCRII
Alpha-ArtsIncorp-15-Jun-07.pdf Alpha-BusReg-9-Nov-11.jpg
CFMAs
CFMA Zuzohn [Zuzoh] - Booming Green Liberia
Booming-Green-third-party-management-agreement.pdf SOFRECO-review-Booming-Green.pdf Booming-Green-financials.docx
Documents shared by FDA
Booming-Green-ESIS.pdf Booming-Green-harvest-certificate-rotated.jpg Booming-Green-performance-bond.pdf Booming-Green-pre-qualification-certificate.pdf Booming-Green-tax-clearance-certificate.pdf Block-map-scaled.jpeg Booming-Green-annual-operations-plan-2018-19.pdf Booming-Green-articles-of-incorporation.pdf Booming-Green-certificate-of-business-registration.jpg Booming-Green-CFMA.pdf Booming-Green-ESIA.pdf
CFMA Sewacajua - Mandra Forestry Liberia Inc
CFMB-stop-order.pdf Community-assembly-stop-order.pdf Mandra-financials.docx Mandra-third-party-management-agreement.pdf Report-on-implementation-failure.docx Report-on-transparency.pdf SDI-briefing-Mandra.pdf SOFRECO-review-Mandra.pdf Block-map-1.png CFMB-letter-to-FDA.pdf CFMB-no-confidence-vote.pdf
Documents shared by FDA
Mandra-articles-of-incorporation.pdf Mandra-certificate-of-business-registration.pdf Mandra-CFMA.pdf Mandra-performance-bond.pdf Mandra-pre-qualification-certificate.pdf Mandra-socioeconomic-survey.pdf Block-map.png
CFMA Gheegbarn1 - WAFDI
FDA-disciplinary-action-board-resolution.pdf
Documents shared by FDA
WAFDI-certificate-of-business-registration-2013.pdf WAFDI-certificate-of-business-registration-2022.pdf WAFDI-CFMA.pdf WAFDI-EPA.pdf WAFDI-performance-bond.pdf WAFDI-pre-qualification-certificate.pdf WAFDI-tax-clearance-certificate.pdf WAFDI-third-party-management-agreement.pdf Block-map.pdf WAFDI-5-year-management-plan.pdf WAFDI-amended-articles-of-incorporation.pdf WAFDI-annual-harvest-certificate-2022.pdf WAFDI-annual-operational-plan-2022.pdf
CFMA Gbi - LTTC
LTTC-letter-of-introduction.pdf LTTC-petition.pdf LTTC-TPA-1.pdf LTTC-CFMA-1.pdf LTTC-field-verification.pdf
Documents shared by FDA
Block-map.jpg LTTC-5-year-management-plan-1.pdf LTTC-amended-articles-of-incorporation-signed.pdf LTTC-amended-articles-of-incorporation.pdf LTTC-annual-operation-plan-2021-22.pdf LTTC-business-registration.pdf LTTC-CFMA.pdf LTTC-contract.pdf LTTC-EAR.pdf LTTC-EPA-permit.pdf LTTC-harvest-permit-2021-22.pdf LTTC-performance-bond.pdf LTTC-pre-qualification-certificate.pdf LTTC-Social-Agreement.pdf LTTC-tax-clearance-certificate-2022.pdf LTTC-TPA.pdf
CFMA Bluyeama - Sing Africa
CSIFM-briefing-2016.pdf Ecowood-CFMA.pdf Sing-Africa-arrears-letter.pdf Sing-Africa-CFMA-2012-1.pdf Sing-Africa-CFMA-2016.pdf Sing-Africa-CFMP.pdf Sing-Africa-financials.docx Sing-Africa-SDI-review.pdf Sing-Africa-volume-harvested-statement.jpeg SOFRECO-review-Sing-Africa.pdf
Documents shared by FDA
Sing-Africa-amended-articles-of-incorporation.pdf Sing-Africa-articles-of-incorporation.pdf Sing-Africa-business-registration.pdf Sing-Africa-certificate-of-pre-qualification.jpg Sing-Africa-CFMA-2012.pdf Sing-Africa-EAR.pdf Sing-Africa-performance-bond.pdf Sing-Africa-socioeconomic-survey.pdf
CFMA Beyan Poye - Akewa Group
Akewa-agreement-copy.docx Akewa-CFMA.pdf Akewa-contract-notarized.pdf Akewa-contract-1.pdf Akewa-financials.docx Akewa-forest-community-case-study.pdf Akewa-TPA-amendment.pdf Arbitral-award.pdf Dispute-letter.pdf Memorandum-of-understanding.pdf SOFRECO-review-Akewa.pdf
Documents shared by FDA
Akewa-annual-operational-plan.docx Akewa-business-registration.pdf Akewa-contract.pdf Akewa-EIA-report.pdf Akewa-five-year-management-plan.jpg Akewa-harvest-certificate-scaled.jpg
Articles of Incorporation
AoI_1-scaled.jpg AoI_2-scaled.jpg AoI_3-scaled.jpg AoI_4-scaled.jpg AoI_5-scaled.jpg
Documents shared by Akewa
Akewa-board-resolution.jpg Akewa-business-registration-2013.jpg Akewa-business-registration-2016.jpg Akewa-jurisdictional-ruling-scaled.jpg Amended-AoI-2010.jpg AoI-2013_1.jpg AoI-2013_2.jpg AoI-2016_1.jpg AoI-2016_2.jpg Notice-of-arbitration.docx
Source of Contracts
Source-of-Contracts.docx
Out of Scope Concessions
TSCs
FDA-resolution-canceling-TSCs.pdf JIC-meeting-minutes.pdf
TSC A16 - Sun Yuen
Sun-Yeun-contract-Grand-Cape-1.pdf Sun-Yeun-social-agreement-Grand-Cape.pdf
TSC A15 - Sun Yuen
Sun-Yeun-contract-Grand-Cape.pdf
TSC A11 - Bassa Logging Timber Corp
Bassa-contract-Grand-Cape.pdf Bassa-social-agreement-Grand-Cape.pdf
TSC A9 - B&V
BV-contract-Grand-Cape.pdf
TSC A8 - Thunder Bird
Thunder-Bird-contract-Grand-Cape.pdf
TSC A7 - Bargor
Bargor-contract-Gbarpolu.pdf
TSC A6 - B&V
TSC A2 - Tarpeh Timber Corp
Renaissance-ownership-allegations.pdf Tarpeh-contract-Grand-Bassa.pdf VPA-IA-TL-letter-to-FDA.pdf JIC-session-minutes.pdf
PUPs
SIIB-report-on-PUPs.pdf TDRMDC-PUP.pdf Texas-International-PUP.pdf Kpoto-PUP.pdf
FMCs
FMC C - LTTC
LTTC-full-contract.pdf LTTC-social-agreement-Rivercess.pdf LTTC-FMC.pdf
FMC B - EJ & J
EJJ-social-agreement-Grand-Bassa.pdf EJJ-social-agreement-Rivercess.pdf EJJ-FMC.pdf EJJ-full-contract.pdf
CFMAs
AWLC-third-party-management-agreement_3.pdf Kparblee-Sanabel-transfer-agreement.pdf LS-third-party-management-agreement.pdf Starwood-third-party-management-agreement.pdf Tetra-third-party-management-agreement.pdf AWLC-third-party-management-agreement_1.pdf AWLC-third-party-management-agreement_2.pdf
Volume 2 – Case Briefs
Volume-2-.pdf
Library of Documents
Laws, regulations, guides & handbooks
Strategy documents
Liberia-FDA-forestry-policy-strategy-2006.pdf Liberia-FDA-national-forest-management-strategy-2007.pdf
Laws
Bid-suspension-Act.pdf Liberia-LEITI-Act.pdf Liberia-PPCA.pdf NFRL-Liberia-forestry-law.pdf Act-to-abolish-bid-premium.pdf Act-to-establish-community-rights-law-of-2009.pdf
Regulations
Liberia-FDA-forest-lands-regulation.pdf Liberia-FDA-ten-core-regulations.pdf Liberia-FDA-timber-processing-and-marketing-regulation.pdf Amended-PPCA-regulations.pdf Libera-FDA-abandoned-timber-regulation.pdf Liberia-FDA-confiscated-timber-regulation.pdf
Handbooks & guides
Liberia-FDA-social-agreements-handbook.pdf Liberia-forest-conversion-legal-framework.pdf Liberia-social-agreement-negotiations-guide.pdf Management-Plan-and-Rules-Template-Forest-Communities_FINAL2-copy.pdf USAID-community-forestry-handbook.pdf CUC-draft-template.pdf Liberia-FDA-code-of-forest-harvesting-practices.pdf Liberia-FDA-forest-compliance-and-enforcement-handbook.pdf Liberia-FDA-guidelines-for-forest-management-planning.pdf
Previous reviews
LEITI-post-award-process-audit-final-report.pdf SIIB-Report-on-PUPs.pdf Description-of-forestry-concession-review-of-2004.pdf
SOFRECO
SOFRECO-audit-4-report-vol-.1.pdf SOFRECO-audit-4-report-vol.-2.pdf SOFRECO-audit-5-Report-vol.-1.pdf Final-SOFRECO-review.pdf NMSMC-consolidated-comments-on-concession-review.pdf
Other related documents
SOFREOC-review-2019-1.pdf World-Bank-review-report-executive-summary-1.pdf Technical-mission-report-2019-1-1.pdf
World Bank reports
World-Bank-strategic-environmental-assessment.pdf
CSO reports
Sewacajua-SDI-briefing-2014.pdf Sewacajua-SDI-briefing-2018.pdf Sewacajua-SDI-briefing-2022.pdf Global-Witness-Liberia-report-2014.pdf Global-Witness-Liberia-report-2018.pdf
Other documents
USAID-forest-concessions-report-2013.pdf Sustainable-forest-management-in-Liberia.pdf Forest-Trend-Letter-of-Support-from-MD-FDA.pdf LEITI-forest-company-data-1.xlsx LEITI-government-revenue-reporting-1.xlsx JIC-VPA-financial-details.pdf LVD-monthly-performance-report-May-2022.docx LVD-monthly-performance-report-April-2022.docx