6. Conclusions and Recommendations A. Conclusions of the Field Visit
1. As described in Section 4, current palm oil industry developments in Liberia bring the promise of significant economic benefits in terms of sales and tax revenues, employment
opportunities, and expanded investments. If the current targets and projections for oil palm industry expansion are met, Liberia could realize production of 1.0-1.5 million
metric tons of Crude Palm Oil Production valued at US750-1,125 million in sales at current market prices. This development could create up to 90,000 new workplaces as
well as opportunities for 30,000 smallholder outgrowers to significantly increasing their incomes. Additionally, the country could increase its tax revenues significantly and create
special funds for oil palm development financed by sales.
2. Without coordinated planning and effective land use change policies in the forest and agricultural ministries, there is a substantial risk of forest conversion and biodiversity
losses through rapid expansion of oil palm plantations in Liberia, particularly in areas with vulnerable forest ecosystems and protected areas such as Sinoe County. Liberia,
which contains the highest percentage of natural forests and levels of biodiversity in the Guinean Forest Region, appears to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of rapid land
use change. These impacts include major disruptions of natural forests and dislocations of endangered species. An additional challenge posed by oil palm expansion in Liberia
is the potential occurrence of land use conflicts and tenurial disputes involving government, companies, and local communities.
3. Liberia has significant leverage in compelling sustainable practices by incoming concessionaires since all four companies that have secured or are seeking concessions are
members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil RSPO. The RSPO contains several key mechanisms and tools to address land use change issues, including the
requirements to conduct High Conservation Value HCV assessments and follow responsible and transparent procedures for new plantations. The RSPOs standards or its
Principles and Criteria P C use the Free Prior and Informed Consent FPIC framework that can provide effective means to avoid and resolve land use conflicts. The
potential for 100 RSPO certified production in Liberia also creates a significant competitive advantage in selling source-identified Certified Sustainable Palm Oil CSPO
for premium prices.
4. Given the dramatic and rapid expansion of Liberia’s palm oil industry, there is an urgent need to create a multi-stakeholder sustainable palm oil initiative, with support
from the Liberian and international government institutions, conservation NGOs, the major producer companies developing the concessions, and the RSPO’s Secretariat and
Ghana National Interpretation working group.
B. Recommendations for Follow-up Actions 1 National Level Recommendations:
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