So who owns the Forest?

"So Who Owns the Forest: An Investigation into Forest Ownership and Customary Land Rights in Liberia" is a comprehensive study by Liz Alden Wily, a land tenure specialist with over 30 years of experience in agrarian states. This study, conducted under the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) and FERN, delves into the complex issue of forest ownership and land rights in Liberia. The aim of the study is to transform decision-making processes related to natural resources and promote the equitable sharing of benefits derived from natural resource exploitation in Liberia. The vision of the study is to guide Liberia's natural resource management by sustainability and good governance principles, benefiting all Liberians. The study addresses a variety of cross-cutting issues, including governance and management, environment, state, and corporate social responsibility. It also focuses on economic and social justice for rural populations and the democratic participation of ordinary people in the government management of their natural resources. Liz Alden Wily, the author, is an acknowledged expert on customary land tenure and natural resources governance. The study significantly contributes to policy and legal reforms in Liberia, particularly those focusing on forests and the rights of forest peoples. It also underscores land conflicts and disputes, emphasizing the need for integrated tenure and natural resource governance projects.