The Forestry Training Institute (FTI) is to form part of the implementation of a project, titled “Community-Based Forestry and Protected Area Management in Boosting Biodiversity Conservation and Improving Livelihoods of Forest-Fringe/Forest-Dependent Communities and Groups in Liberia,” is being implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with financial support from the Swedish Embassy.
For FTI, the project aims to establish and or upgrade tree nurseries in the project landscapes of Northwestern and Southeastern Liberia, with specific focus on promoting sustainable forest management and improving livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.
Two nursery sites were selected, the Grand Gedeh University College in Zwedru hosting 18,000 seedlings for the Southeast, and the FDA’s permanent nursery site in Foya, Lofa County, selected for the Northwest, also hosting 18,000 seedlings.
The project will see the Forestry Training Institute (FTI) play a crucial role in carrying out the nursery establishment, with benefits expected to accrue to the institution and the communities it serves.
For FTI, the project will provide opportunities for capacity building, skills transfer, and infrastructure development, enhancing its ability to train forestry professionals and support sustainable forest management in Liberia.
Specifically, FTI stands to benefit from:
– Capacity building for staff and students in tree nursery management and sustainable forest management
– Infrastructure development, including nursery infrastructure and use of equipment
– Access to technical expertise and knowledge sharing
– Opportunities for research and development in forestry and sustainable forest management
– Enhanced collaboration with international organizations and government agencies
The project will also promote the cultivation of a wide range of tree species, including Cocoa, Cashew, timber species, NTFPs, fruit trees, and others, which will not only contribute to biodiversity conservation but also provide economic benefits to forest-dependent communities.
The implementation of this project is a significant step towards promoting sustainable forest management and improving livelihoods in Liberia, and FTI is well-positioned to play a key role in this endeavor.