Improving Forest Reference Emission Levels in Liberia for Global Reporting and Sustainable Forest Management - UTF/LIR/023/LIR
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Liberia contains approximately 4.3 million hectares of lowland tropical forests, accounting for 43 percent of the Upper Guinean Forest, which has been recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot and a priority area for conservation. Although the Upper Guinean Forest has diminished to an estimated 14.3 percent of its original range, Liberia remains home to both evergreen lowland forests and semi deciduous mountain forests. In addition to hosting endemic animal species and over 2 000 flowering plants, forest landscapes are essential for providing ecosystem services and possess great potential for enhancing Liberia’s development. Moreover, the livelihoods of one third of Liberia’s population are dependent on forest products and ecosystem services. The international agreement on “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, plus the sustainable management of forests, and the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks,” more commonly known as REDD+, compensates countries for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. Importantly, it has created an opportunity for Liberia to simultaneously ( i ) manage its forests for sustainable, long term economic growth, (ii) support the livelihoods of local and rural communities, and (iii) ensure that its national and global heritage is conserved. Liberia has committed to implementing REDD+ in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). To fully participate in REDD+ and assess whether its actions are yielding the desired results, Liberia needs to evaluate its historical forest emissions and continue monitoring its Forest Reference Emissions Levels (FRELs) in the future.