By: Ben TC Brooks
River Gee County | May 11, 2026 | In a landmark move aimed at promoting environmental protection and sustainable community development, the Sarbo Chiefdom in River Gee electoral district 3, and the Cavalla Rubber Corporation – CRC, acting on behalf of SIPH/SIFCA, have signed a 15-year Memorandum of Understanding – MoU, to establish the Sarbo Nature Reserve.
The agreement runs from 2026 to 2041, and will undergo review every five years.
The ceremony, held on April 13, 2026, at the Sarbo Woffiken Town Hall, brought together representatives of the Sarbo Chiefdom, the River Gee County Coordinator of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Forestry Development Authority, civil society organizations – CSOs, the Superintendents of Maryland and River Gee Counties, members of the press, and the general public.
The agreement represents a major transition from commercial rubber expansion to long-term forest conservation, in line with international zero-deforestation commitments and Liberia’s environmental sustainability goals.
Under the newly signed agreement, approximately 2,123.94 hectares of forest land, including high-carbon stock and degraded forest areas, will now be formally protected.
The partnership traces its roots to earlier arrangements made in 2012 following a national concession granted to CRC in 2011.
At the time, Sarbo Chiefdom allocated land for rubber cultivation with plans to develop nearly 4,000 hectares, but only 2,481 were later confirmed suitable for cultivation.
However, a 2016 environmental assessment subsequently identified portions of high carbon stock – HCS, forest within the concession area, prompting both parties to reconsider the future use of the land.
With growing international restrictions on deforestation and increasing global demand for sustainable land management, the parties agreed to convert the unplanted concession land into a protected forest reserve.
The Sarbo Nature Reserve is expected to
conserve biodiversity and critical ecosystems;
Restore degraded forest landscapes;
Promote sustainable forest management;
Prevent illegal logging, farming, hunting, encroachment; and Support climate change mitigation efforts.
According the 15 years agreement, the project will be supervised by a newly established Sarbo Nature Reserve Committee – SNRC, to ensure transparency, accountability, and joint decision-making.
Under the agreement, the committee include; five representatives from the Sarbo communities; five representatives from the CRC/SIPH; one representative from the Forestry Development Authority FDA; and
The River Gee County Agriculture Coordinator.
However, the committee responsibilities will involve holding of regular meetings three times annually to monitor compliance with conservation regulations and oversee implementation activities.
The body is also expected to transition into an independent legal entity within three years.
As part of the agreement, a specialized security unit to be known as the Community-Based Forest Guards – CBFG will be established to protect the reserve.
The Guard will patrol the forest areas to prevent illegal hunting, farming, and encroachment; maintain buffer zones between agricultural and protected lands; monitor and control access points; restrict unauthorized entry; and support biodiversity conservation initiatives.
The MoU also introduces strict environmental safeguards, including aban on farming, hunting, and land clearing within the reserve;
prohibition of bush burning and agrochemical use; installation of warning signs and monitoring systems; and community awareness and environmental education programs.
To reduce dependence on forest resources, the agreement also includes several livelihood and social support initiatives for affected communities.
Annual compensation of US$5 per hectare to
support rice, cassava, banana, pineapple, and vegetable production, as well as market access assistance for agricultural products; and
support for livestock, poultry, fish farming, beekeeping, cattle, and piggery projects.
Additionally, the MoU allocates an annual budget of US$30,000 for community development initiatives.
Out of the total amount, US$5,000 will annually be used to support volunteer teachers in Maaken, Woffiken, Geeken, Saykliken, and Sweaken, while the remaining $25k is set aside for livelihood and development projects, of which Woffiken, the host community will be receiving US$12,000, Sweaken – US$3,500, Geeken – US$3,500, Maaken – US$3,000 and Saykliken – US$3,000 respectively.
The MoU also provides for the construction and equipping of a health post, in Sarbo Woffiken which will later be turned over to the community and the Ministry of Health for management.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Forestry Development Authority – FDA, Region Five Coordinator, Evans Momodu Kiatamba called on both parties to uphold their responsibilities to ensure a successful partnership.
“The FDA owns the forest, while the community serves as custodians. Having this agreement with a renowned plantation company, we expect both the community and CRC to fulfill their responsibilities. Our offices remain open,” Kiatamba stated.
CRC/SIPH/SIFCA John Lootvoet Executive Director, also pledged the company’s commitment to fully implement the terms of the agreement.
For his part, River Gee County Superintendent Mike Tarpeh Swengbe praised the people of Sarbo Chiefdom for choosing conservation over destructive exploitation of their forest resources.
He urged other communities across River Gee County to emulate Sarbo Chiefdom’s example by embracing sustainable environmental practices.
The agreement was officially signed by representatives of the five Sarbo communities, including youth leaders, women representatives, chiefs, and elders, alongside CRC Managing Director Marc Genot.
The signing ceremony was also witnessed by River Gee County Superintendent Mike Tarpeh Swengbe, River Gee County Agriculture Officer Jasper Sheriff Tweh, and representatives of the Forestry Development Authority.
