People, Rules and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER) 12th Quarterly Report

The overall goal of the program is to promote sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas. The three primary objectives of the program are to expand educational and institutional capacity, improve community-based forest management, and enhance community-based livelihoods. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, the effects of the Ebola outbreak were minimal, and considerable progress was made in implementing PROSPER activities. In May 2015, Liberia was declared Ebola-free, allowing several technical specialists to travel to Liberia to assist with the completion of PROSPER deliverables. The collaborative work with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), PROSPER, and the Community Forestry Working Group (CFWG) led to the beginning of the process for a community to gain Community Forest status. Component 1 activities for the quarter included finalizing prototypes of educational materials, designing and conducting a baseline study on threats to biodiversity, launching an outreach campaign, purchasing mobile public address systems, training regional foresters, and updating the Community Forestry Curriculum. Component 2 activities included supporting communities to monitor activities in their Community Forests, updating legal documents, providing support for Community Assembly Management Activities, participating in the Northern Nimba Biodiversity Stakeholders' Forum, conducting a capacity assessment for business development, and consulting with Conservation International on the potential for piloting Conservation Agreements. The PROSPER program has made significant progress in implementing its activities, including the development of educational materials, the launch of an outreach campaign, and the beginning of the process for a community to gain Community Forest status. The program's collaborative work with local institutions and stakeholders has been instrumental in achieving its objectives. The program's focus on sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises has the potential to promote economic growth and improve the livelihoods of local communities in Liberia. The PROSPER program's activities have been focused on expanding educational and institutional capacity, improving community-based forest management, and enhancing community-based livelihoods. The program's collaborative work with local institutions and stakeholders has been instrumental in achieving its objectives. The program's focus on sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises has the potential to promote economic growth and improve the livelihoods of local communities in Liberia.