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

The program aims to enhance environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance. The primary objectives of PROSPER are to expand educational and institutional capacity, improve community-based forest management, and enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises. The program operates in seven sites across Liberia, with a focus on northern Nimba. During the period from January 1 to March 31, 2013, PROSPER staff and community members engaged in various activities, including awareness activities, stakeholder consultations, and support for community assemblies and management bodies. The program also provided support to the Community Rights Law and the procedures required to establish community assemblies and management bodies. In the mature PROSPER sites in northern Nimba, the management plan was implemented through support to the Community Forestry Management Association (CFMA) and Forest Guards. The CFMA and Forest Guards worked to introduce the permit system, resolve farming and forest management issues, and enforce community-generated rules. The larger context in which PROSPER operates is characterized by pressure from private companies seeking to access Liberia's forests. Despite the closure of the "back door" provided by Private Use Permits in January, logging companies submitted numerous applications to establish authorized community forests. PROSPER devoted significant attention and energy to advising and advocating for partner communities on land and forest management issues arising from private company concessions. The program's activities during the period from January 1 to March 2013 included: * Awareness activities in the seven new PROSPER sites to educate staff and community members on community forestry, the Community Rights Law, and the procedures required to establish community assemblies and management bodies. * Stakeholder consultations to solicit the views of local actors on their interest in engaging in community forestry and to identify potential forest areas. * Support for farmer field school (FFS) activities and access to revolving funds and equipment for the 2013 Griffonia campaign. * Implementation of the management plan in the mature PROSPER sites in northern Nimba through support to the CFMA and Forest Guards. Overall, PROSPER's activities during the period from January 1 to March 2013 focused on building the capacity of local communities to manage their forests sustainably and to negotiate with private companies seeking to access their forests.