Paper short abstract:

This paper explores the potential socio-economic and environmental impacts of a proposed large-scale oil palm concession and the complexity of community land rights and resistance to agricultural concessions in Liberia.

Paper long abstract:

As part of the rebuilding efforts following the long civil war, the Liberian government has renegotiated long-term contracts with foreign investors to exploit natural resources. Some accounts suggest that up to 50% of the land in Liberia has been handed out in large-scale concessions in the last five years (CICR, 2012; Oxfam, 2012). While this may promote economic growth at the national level, such concessions are likely to have major environmental, social and economic impacts on local communities, who have often not been consulted on the proposed developments. Drawing on the first two authors' recent research and on the professional experience of the third author, this paper explores the potential socio-economic and environmental impacts of a proposed large-scale oil palm concession in Gbarpolu county and the complexity of community land rights and resistance to agricultural concessions in Liberia. Ecosystems services mapping suggests that the proposed concession could have far-reaching environmental consequences, in terms of the loss of high canopy and secondary rainforest, which is a crucial source of carbon storage and biodiversity. Participatory workshops to map community and forest resources reveal the centrality of land and forest resources to people's sense of identity and belonging, their present and future livelihoods and food security and their resistance to the planned development. Gendered and age-related differences in priorities and impacts are explored. Concerted efforts to lobby government and other key stakeholders may help to achieve legal reform and enhance community participation in re-negotiating contracts for proposed concessions in future.