THERE ARE REPORTED fear among residents of Grand Gedeh as Burkinabe allegedly take over several communities reserved national forest in the southeastern region of Liberia.
SPEAKING IN TOE Town, Kelvin Kayee, Commissioner of B,hai District explained that the huge present of Burkinabe living in the forest in the district and making farms in the community reserved forest is unacceptable.
ACCORDING TO COMMISSIONER Kayee, more than 5,000 Burkinabe are allegedly living in the forest in towns and villages carrying out farming activities without the knowledge of the government .
COMMISSIONER KAYEE FURTHER revealed that women don’t go on the farm alone for fear of Burkinabe in the forest and the Gbao District Land Officer, Odesco Seo, alleged that Burkinabe are taking over the lands in some of the communities’ reserved national forest.
TENSION IS REPORTEDLY mounting between local communities members and Burkinabe over the alleged farming in community reserved national forest couple with destruction of the forest with chemical.
FDA REGION 4 CENTRAL office in Zwedru when contacted, the FDA Regional Extension Officer Moses Kolubah confirmed the alleged destruction of communities national reserved forest by the Burkinabe.
THE RECENT REPORTS of alleged encroachment by thousands of Burkinabe nationals into Grand Gedeh’s community-reserved forests are deeply troubling and demand immediate, decisive action from the Government of Liberia.
WE CALL ON President Joseph Boakai’s administration to prioritize the protection of Liberia’s territorial integrity and natural heritage.
WE STRONGLY URGE the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Defense to immediately launch a coordinated investigation into these claims.
IF THE CLAIMS being made by the local are true, all f us should begin reading the dangerous signs on the walls by having foreign national intruding our forest unregulated or we are passively waiting to resettle the Burkinabe when they lay claim in the future to their crops being planted on our soil?
FOR US, THE time is never late for the government to engage local communities, ensure their safety, and provide clear communication on what actions are being taken.
IN OUR VIEW, Liberia’s forests are not just national assets they are lifelines for communities and critical buffers against climate change.
