Fair and transparent governance of Liberia’s forestry sector will be crucial to securing the country’s environmental and economic future.

Once a key cog in Charles Taylor’s tyrannical war machine, the timber trade in post-conflict Liberia remains plagued by corruption and mismanagement. Promising rhetoric and legislative reforms have been undermined by weaknesses in implementation and the government’s tendency to sidestep its own laws as it seeks to generate revenue through overseas investment.

Unless an honest evaluation of how Liberia’s forestry sector can benefit its people is undertaken and anti-corruption measures are properly enforced, the rapid and unsustainable liquidation of the country’s natural assets will continue.

Global Witness’ current campaign scrutinises the governance of Liberia’s timber trade, working with the government, international donors and local civil society partners to press for the enforcement of the country’s forestry laws.

We have repeatedly voiced concerns over the allocation of logging contracts to questionable companies that lack the necessary money or capacity. In 2008 and 2009, the government awarded concessions to the notorious Malaysian timber giant Samling a company with a long track record of destroying tropical forests and abusing local communities. Our investigations revealed a range of flaws in the bid process and raised fundamental questions as to whether the promised tax and employment benefits would ever materialise.

The campaign also focuses on the growing threat of corruption in carbon emissions trading. In 2010, we raised serious concerns about a proposed bid by UK-based Carbon Harvesting Corporation (CHC) for a carbon concession comprising an immense portion of Liberia's rainforest.