In an effort to address longstanding land ownership issues, the Alliance for Rural Democracy is leading five communities affected by the operations of the Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC) and four communties affected by the operations of the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC) concession areas in piloting a Customary Land Rights Formalization (CLRF) process.
This initiative, led by the Alliance for Rural Democracy (ARD) in partnership with the Natural Resource Women Platform (NRWP) and Green Advocates International (GAI), seeks to help rural communities secure statutory deeds for their customary lands, as mandated by the 2018 Land Rights Act (LRA).
For many rural Liberian communities, awareness of the Land Rights Act has been limited, with minimal information about the CLRF process, which is critical for obtaining formal land ownership.
The ARD and its partners pilot program’s initial step, the Community Self-Identification (CSI), was launched in last year in selected communities impacted by the SRC and LAC operations.
SRC operates in Margibi and Bong Counties, while LAC is located in Grand Bassa County. Both companies are owned by SOCFIN, and their operations on customary land have historically been conducted without the consent of local communities, leading to land grabs, destruction of livelihoods, and various human rights violations. This has led to ongoing legal battle between concessions companies and local communties over land ownership.
At the Salala Rubber Corporation, the Alliance for Rural Democracy and its partners initiated the CSI pilot in five SRC-affected communities. The affected communties include: Gorgbor, Ansa-ta, Monkey-tai, Sackie Gbomah, and Doakai towns.
While at the Liberia Agericultural Company, four affected communities are to benefit. Those communties are: Siah Borbor, Trodian, Gbafein, and New Ceezon.
The initiative has sparked excitement among local residents, many of whom expressed gratitude for finally receiving critical information about their land rights.
Rufus Guether, a resident of New Ceezon in the LAC-affected area, highlighted the significance of the education:
“This is our first time having a meeting like this. I can now explain what I’ve learned to others.” Similar sentiments were echoed by other community members, who expressed newfound confidence in addressing land issues with the companies.
Women were particularly energized by the information shared about their land rights, with many expressing appreciation for the opportunity to participate in discussions that were historically male-dominated. “Thank God our eyes are now opened,” said Ma Zeowele Kangar, a resident of LAC’s affected community. “We can now sit in meetings and discuss our land, our district, and our county.”
In addition to raising awareness about land rights, the CSI process also documented indigenous knowledge within the communities. This included traditional practices like farming, hunting, and fishing, which are critical for both cultural preservation and the development of sustainable conservation and economic opportunities.
The pilot’s success has empowered community members and provided them with the tools to better protect and manage their customary lands. As the CLRF process progresses, the lessons learned from these communities will play a key role in scaling the initiative to other rural areas in Liberia, ensuring that the voices of customary landowners are heard and their rights upheld.
