Liberia’s Opportunity to Lead: Policy for Deforestation-Free, Climate-Smart Agriculture
VOSIEDA urges the Government of Liberia to develop a comprehensive policy and strategy to support smallholder farmers in transitioning to deforestation-free agricultural practices and reducing dependence on nitrogen fertilizers, chemical pesticides, and antibiotics. This transition is vital for achieving national goals related to climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and public health.
To enable this shift, the government should promote integrated, sustainable alternatives—such as those demonstrated by the VOSIEDA Climate-Smart Agriculture Project, supported by the German Federal Government through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), in partnership with Welthungerhilfe (WHH).
This initiative aligns with the European Union’s deforestation-free regulations by empowering farmers to adopt land-use practices that prevent deforestation and forest degradation. Key actions include:
- Promoting agroforestry, sustainable intensification, and reforestation to meet agricultural demand without encroaching on forested areas.
- Supporting the development and enforcement of land-use plans that protect High Conservation Value (HCV) and High Carbon Stock (HCS) areas.
- Training smallholders in deforestation-free production practices and sustainable land management.
- Enhancing access to climate-smart assistance to minimize the need for land expansion.
- Introducing financial incentives or access to premium markets for deforestation-free products.
- Helping cocoa and oil palm farmers increase yields without clearing forests.
- Using GPS mapping to register farms and verify that no deforestation occurred.
- Facilitating certification and linking smallholders with EU buyers seeking compliant products
Deforestation-free small-scale farming presents a transformative pathway for balancing agricultural development with environmental protection. In many countries like Liberia, smallholder farmers are often forced to clear forests to expand farmland due to declining soil fertility, lack of inputs, or limited access to sustainable farming techniques. Promoting deforestation-free practices—such as agroforestry, crop diversification, and sustainable intensification—allows farmers to increase yields on existing land while conserving forests. This helps protect vital ecosystems that provide clean water, regulate local climates, and serve as habitats for diverse plant and animal species.
Moreover, this approach directly supports the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, who make up the majority of rural populations. Through access to training, improved inputs, and climate-smart technologies, farmers can boost productivity and income without resorting to environmentally harmful practices. It also opens doors to premium markets that increasingly demand deforestation-free products, such as cocoa and palm oil, providing new economic opportunities. Financial incentives, technical assistance, and stronger land rights further empower farmers to invest in long-term, sustainable land management.
Importantly, deforestation-free small-scale farming aligns with both national priorities and global climate and biodiversity goals. It supports Liberia’s commitments to climate resilience, forest conservation, and sustainable development, while also complying with regulations like the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation. By investing in this approach, governments and development partners can create a more inclusive, resilient, and environmentally sustainable rural economy—benefiting current generations and protecting critical natural resources for the future.
