Regulation on sustainability of the resource base for fuelwood and charcoal production (FDA Regulation No. 19)

FORESTRYDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REGULATION NO. 19 REGULATION ON SUSTANINABILlTY OF THE RESOURCE BASE FOR FUELWOOD AND CHARCOAL PRODUCTION WHEREAS, the Act creating the Forestry Development Authority approved November 1, 1976 and published December 20. 1976 laid down as one of the primary objectives of the FDA to stop needless waste and destruction of the forest and associated natural resources and to bring about the profitable harvesting of all forest products while assuring that supplies of these, products are perpetuated (Section 3c): and . WHEREAS, the Authority has been charge in Section 3 (d) of the Act with the responsibility to correlate forestry to all other land use and adjust the forest economy to the overall national economy; WHEREAS, (Section 4j) ofsaid Act empowers the FDA to promulgate rules and regulations from to time to time to ensure the implementation ofthe policies and objectives ofthe Authority; and WHEREAS, Regulation No.5, Section 7.1 (Forestry Consultancy) stipulates that upon request of the owner, FDA shall, if possible, also render Consultancy services to the owner in all other aspects of the management and utilization of the owner's forest land and forest resources, including but not limited to, the hiring of qualified staff, the organization of operations the acquiring, use and maintenance ofmachinery, the processing and marketing offorest products; and WHEREAS, in recent times fossil fuel imported into the country has .become increasingly expensive and beyond the reach of most people, fuelwood and charcoal have' now become extensively used for domestic heating and cooking; and WHEREAS, this present trend of charcoal and fuelwood production experts pressure on the available forest resources; and WHEREAS, it is deemed necessary to adopt measures for efficient environmental control to ensure that there is a continuous forest cover; and NOW, THEREFORE, the Forestry Development Authority does hereby rule and regulate; SECTION I: DEFORESTATION/DESERTIFICATION Certain areas in Liberia are threatened With deforestation/desertification and therefore charcoal and fuelwood production shall not be permitted therein. Such areas are: 1. Mangrove swamps/marsh forests along rivers, watershed areas; (sources ofrivers and creeks) 2. Urban centers 3. Savannah areas 4. National forests 5. National parks and other protected areas SECTION II: ESTABLISHMENT OF INDIVIDUAL WOODLOTS AND COMMUNITY PLANTATIONS In areas where supply of fuelwood is low due to shortage of the resource base, the Authority will conduct programmes aimed at encouraging the establishment of individual woodlots and community plantations. Individuals or communities whose areas are threatened as such may seek technical advice from the Authority from timeto time. SECTIONIII: BAN ON EXPORTATION OF CHARCOAL The supply of charcoal in urban cities, especially Monrovia falls short of the demand and prices are consequently escalating. As such a ban is placed on charcoal export until the local demand is sufficiently met. SECTION IV: PENALTY (a) Where a charcoal producer is found operating in areas mentioned in Section I of this regulation, his produce (charcoal) shall be confiscated, auctioned and proceeds deposited into the forest conservation account. (b) Also where any quantity of charcoal is found at the port and designated for export, penalty as in Section IV (a) shall be applied. In the event shipment is already effected, the exporter shall pay an amount equivalent to one hundred percent (100%) of the FOB Value of the consignment. SECTIONV: EFFECTIVE DATE This regulation shall become effective on April 30, 1990 and shall be announced in the public media and published in the FDA Newsletter. SIGNED: SHAD G. KAYDEA SIGNED: SHAD G. KAYDEA MANAGING DIRECTOR FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MARCH26, 1990 MONROVIA, LIBERIA