MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Government of Liberia has clarified ongoing Carbon Policy Validation contention with forest communities, especially the Carbon Market Rights and the Carbon Credit Rights.

The National Coordinator for Climate Change Secretariat of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Elijah Whapo, said, “The government’s involvement in the matter is to formulate policy that will guide forest communities from future exploitation by other individuals.

Whapo noted that through the policy, the government will be the official seller of forest lands and give the produce to the community, while assuring transparency in the process.

He also emphasized that the regulation will greatly benefit the communities, reduce stress on the government, especially in ensuring more development in the respective areas.

Whapo also gave a detailed explanation of the different types of Carbon Market, with reference to the Voluntary Market.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Yiah of the Sustainable Development Institute, an NGO Coalition of Liberia, said the situation dates back to Liberia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.

Yiah noted that the country ratified the agreement in 2018, which the world agreed to reduce carbon emissions to bring them to 2.0.

He furthered that the CSOs’ collaboration with the government is to ensure that the policy framework and legal documents reflect the interests of the citizens.

Jonathan disclosed that the stakeholders’ participation in the ongoing argument is taking place smoothly, but highlighted key issues that Civil Society actors are engaged in to address the process.