The Sustainable Development Institute’s briefing paper examines the Sewacajua Authorized Forest Community in Southeast Liberia, focusing on the community forest’s establishment, governance, and benefit distribution. Eight years after the 2017 revision of the Community Rights Law Regulations, the study follows up on the Community Forest Management Agreement between the Forestry Development Authority and the community. It highlights progress in community forestry while addressing ongoing challenges, such as governance issues, weak law enforcement, and inequitable benefit-sharing. The paper offers recommendations for strengthening community governance, enforcing laws, and improving benefit-sharing to ensure meaningful social and economic benefits and guide the implementation of the 2025 National Forest Forum Monrovia Declaration for sustainable forest management practices across Liberia.
