Alternative Asset Analysis Backs Liberia’s Approach to Forestry Protection

Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), an alternative investment advocacy group, which supports environmentally and socially responsible investments, backs the move by Liberia. Anthony Johnson, the organization’s partner and analyst explained, “Liberia’s forests were all but destroyed by warlords, before a UN embargo was introduced in 2003 to stop the trade of these ‘logs of war’.”

“The news that Liberia’s elected President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, is taking further measures to protect the region’s precious forests is very welcome,” added Johnson.

One of the most exciting developments in ensuring only legally felled trees are traded is a new barcode system, explained AAA. The deal between the EU and Liberia requires every tree and every log to be barcoded, which will enable it to be tracked from forest to destination.

Liberia is dependent on the export of its natural resources, but instead of limiting the business it can do with the EU – the largest market for its timber – the new deal is expected to boost its potential trade. With the EU increasingly concerned about the source of the material it buys from abroad, it is vital that any country selling timber to the region demonstrates its commitment to these kinds of assurance schemes.

Showing that it can effectively control logging and export of sustainably produced timber will also lead to further investment in the country, added Mr Johnson.

www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

 

This article was originally posted on West Africa Business Communities

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