FLEGT-VPA

Supporting the Implementation of Liberia's Voluntary Partnership Agreement

VPA SUPPORT UNIT 2

DAI in cooperation with DFS financed by the EUROPEAN UNION

Inter-agency Workshop on Code of Forest Harvesting Practice in Buchanan

On January 19 – 20, 2021, the VPA Support Unit-2 facilitated an interagency workshop involving key staff and line managers from central offices of the Forestry Development Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, and Ministry of Labour. The event had the purpose to develop a workable mechanism for conducting joint inspections – following a series of mock exercises undertaken in 2020. One outcome of the meeting was to develop a standardized reporting template across the three institutions for inspection purposes. The template named “Non-Compliance Register” (NCR) was than developed.

The inter-agency workshop in Region 3 was held April 26 – 27, 2021 as a follow up to the January workshop with focus on training of inspectors/field staff of FDA, EPA, and MoL in the usage of the new reporting template. The primary objective is to introduce the revised CFHP Inspection Checklist by institution to FDA, EPA and MoL inspectors and acquaint them with the use of the NCR. Emphasis was laid on categorizing non-compliances captured during inspections and on a reporting procedure. The NCR aims at enhancing and standardizing the reporting system among the participating institutions on inspections.

The workshop involved line managers from the 3 institutions’ HQs in Monrovia and their respective field staff or inspectors. At the end of the event the participating institutions came to the following agreements:

  • EPA and MoL opted to add a few more parameters to complete their individual institution’s checklist. MoL to add a logo
  • Joint inspections will be supported, giving magnitude to the work
  • Available resources will be dedicated to the process – vehicle, motorbikes, and inspectors from a regional perspective.
  • Composed regional inspection team; sustainability after the VPA-SU2 will be achieved by coordination at regional level with informed consent from respective HQs through appropriate managers.
  • Most important equipment/logistics to commence inspections: GPS, camera, clinometer, length & diameter tapes, water testing kit, PPEs and DSA.
  • Anticipation to commence first inspection in September 2021.

Written by James Kollie