The Management of the Forestry Development Authority is preparing to arm 45 forest rangers to protect the forest of Liberia from poachers and intruders.
Deputy Managing Director for Operations Joseph J. Tally, says arming rangers would enable them to effectively protect Liberia’s wildlife and ecosystem.Speaking in an interview with reporters recently, he disclosed that rangers have already acquired basic training on usage of fire arm in every concentrated park around the country.
According to him, Liberia is among many countries around the world that is blessed with huge natural resources, including forest that contain several species of animals, but they lack adequate security, which deprives government of revenues.
Director Tally stresses that the wildlife in Liberia must be protected, because the relevant ones are few and should be preserved to attract assistance from international partners.
Forestry Development Authority Managing Director, C. Mike Doryen, says his administration intends to strengthen the institution’s human resource capacity so that employees can effectively perform their duties and responsibilities.
He says some staff members have completed undergraduate studies and Management has plans to send them abroad to pursue Master’s programs, while negotiation is ongoing between the FDA and some colleges in the country to allow staff without college education to enroll and acquire one.
Director Doryen reveals Management will sponsor employees desiring to attend college in Liberia and seek partnership with foreign partners to underwrite financial costs for staffers, who are to pursue Master’s programs outside the country.
He lauds one international partner for recently signing a grant for millions United States Dollars to support the work of the FDA, which will reduce pressure being placed on the forest of Liberia and save the forest ecology.
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He notes that there is need to train other staff of the entity in the area of Timber Grading, which is one of the key areas of forest management, adding that Timber Graders are the people grained to distinguish or identify the various types of logs and their usage.
The FDA boss also announces that a company in Grand Bassa County has expressed interest in turning waste products from logs into finished materials that can be used here and abroad.He says when this is done, the process will create opportunity for jobless Liberians to get employment and acquire professional skills, while working.
Meanwhile, Director Doryen discloses the Management of the FDA is closely working with international partners to refurbish the Forestry Training Institute (FTI) in Bomi County, Western Liberia, which he describes as an important asset to the entity in building its human resource capacity.
The Forestry Development Authority is one of the Liberian government’s key revenue generating entities, but it has been plagued by serious mismanagement and plundering under two previous administrations, especially the era of jailed ex-President Charles Ghankay Taylor.
Managing Director C. Mike Doryen, is the first head appointed to the entity under the current administration of President George Manneh Weah.
By Emmanuel Mondaye –Editing by Jonathan Browne
