reported<\/a> an EU-commissioned, independent investigation found illegal logging on a \u201csignificant scale,\u201d with the Forestry Development Authority breaching the law. The FDA regulates the forestry sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe investigation was prompted by the illegal harvesting of US$3 million worth of logs by the logging firm, Renaissance Group Inc. The FDA was found to have made unlawful decisions in assessing the severity of offenses and downplaying the seriousness of violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Associated Press also reported Liberia exports 70 percent of its timber outside the legal system built with EU support, citing diplomatic sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NGOs are making a last-minute attempt to have the EU reconsider its decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andrew Zelemen of the National Union of Community Forest Development Committees (NUCFDC), fears the decision would undermine gains in the forestry sector. Termination means more illegal logs to Asian markets with lax timber regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe termination of the VPA would likely have detrimental effects on local communities by promoting illegal logging, undermining economic stability and threatening environmental sustainability,\u201d said Zelemen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dayugar Johnson of the Independent Forest Monitor said the NGO Coalition would try to halt the decision. He said it would stifle climate change mitigation efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have started engaging various stakeholders locally and internationally,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cOur next move is to engage with the EU parliament to reason with them not to pass the resolution canceling the VPA in Liberia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EU and the FDA did not immediately respond to queries for comments. However, in her letter to the NGOs, Deprez said Liberia\u2019s forest was crucial for the region, and the EU remained a partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will continue to support and invest in the sector to strengthen it,” Deprez’s letter read, “to make it more sustainable and to fight illegality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This story was a production of the Community of Forest and Environmental Journalists of Liberia (CoFEJ).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Top: The European Union has notified Liberia that it would terminate a trade agreement with the West African country. The DayLight\/James Harding Giahyue By Gabriel M. Dixon Monrovia \u2013 The European Union has notified Liberia of its intent to terminate a timber trade pact between the bloc and the West African country. The Head of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":5510,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54,3],"tags":[973,123,107,1265],"class_list":["post-5508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-logging","category-rainforest","tag-european-union","tag-forestry-development-authority","tag-liberia","tag-voluntary-partnership-agreement"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t
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