SALAYEA TOWN Lofa County – In early June, villagers seized a team of miners and their equipment for operating in the Salayea Community Forest without their consent and sued them. The Community Rights Law of 2009 with Respect to Forest Lands, empowers rural people, who were marginalized for decades. LawsuitsMining in community forests has led to several lawsuits countrywide in the last five years. In the first case, Korninga B Community Forest in Gbarpolu, 100 kilometers west of Salayea, locals sued Bea Mountain company for unauthorized entry into the community forest. Both steep community forests and two others—Gba and Zor—receive support from ArcelorMittal Liberia and USAID.

Source: Front Page Africa November 13, 2024 14:23 UTC