The VPA Support Unit2 (VPA-SU2) facilitated a 4-day brush-up workshop organized by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) for Regions 1 and 2 staff as a follow-up on the December 2019 brush-up workshop outcomes. The venue was the DEN-L Training Center in Gbarnga.
The workshop had the main purpose of reviewing the 2019/2020 logging activities and setting priorities/ regional tasks for the ongoing 2020/2021 logging season. The objectives were:
- To inform FDA staff on the updates of the Forward Planner and the Legality Matrix under review; and findings from the assessment of long-term sustainability of commercial timber harvesting conducted by the VPA SU-2;
- To refresh FDA field staff on work planning, implementation and reporting with respect to their requisite assigned roles;
- To introduce the Non-Compliance Registry for reporting and monitoring non-compliances done by forest operators;
- To provide updates on piloting the draft guidelines for preparing Community Forest Management Plans; and
- To establish 2020/2021 technical training plans for Regions 1and2
The participants included field staff comprising Regional Foresters, Contract Administrators, Forest Management Officers, Inspection Rangers, and Chain of Custody Rangers. The resource persons came from various FDA departments/ divisions, namely Commercial Forestry, Legality Verification, Community Forestry and Liberia Licensing Department as well as from the Forest Law Enforcement Division. Also, the Technical Manager of the Commercial Forestry Department and the Administrative Assistant of the Deputy Managing Director for Operations were in attendance. The VPA-SU2 was represented by its Key Experts and two of its Junior Experts.
The following were the workshop outcomes:
- Updates provided on 2019/ 2020 logging activities, priorities set for the current logging season and technical training plans developed for 2021;
- Clarity provided on roles of field staff and among the various departments and divisions;
- Knowledge of field staff increased on how to identify and to report non-conformities in line with to the Non-Compliance Registry; and
- Field staff acquainted with the newly established Liberia Licensing Department within FDA and its functional roles.
Written by: James Kollie
