Will Liberian government sell 10% of West Africa's land to blue carbon?

In the past year, the Liberian government has agreed to sell about 10% of the West African country’s land — equivalent to 10,931 square kilometers (4,220 square miles) — to Dubai-based company Blue Carbon to preserve forests that might otherwise be logged and used for farming, the primary livelihood for many communities.

Will Liberia grant reforestation rights to a private Emirati company?

ZOHRA BENSEMRA / REUTERS Liberia is preparing to grant the exclusive rights of over 1 million hectares of forest, about 10% of the country's land area, to a private Emirati company that will be tasked with marketing the carbon credits obtained from conservation or reforestation projects.

Are carbon credits legal in Liberia?

“There is no legal framework on carbon credits in Liberia, and so we don’t have rules and regulations to fight for ourselves as a community,” said Walley, whose community, Neezuin, could see about 573 square kilometers signed away to Blue Carbon.

Will Liberian & UAE agree to transfer pollution rights?

According to a confidential and still preliminary version of the contract that Le Monde had access to, the parties plan to use this global event to make public an agreement between the Liberian and the UAE governments concerning the transfer of pollution rights, as provided for in the Paris Climate Agreement.

Does Liberia need informed consent?

In Liberia, the government is required to obtain prior, informed consent from communities before using their land for such deals. However, former President George Weah’s government moved forward without it, according to activists and communities.