AAA Backs Liberia’s Approach to Forestry Protection

Liberia has made an agreement with the European Union to ensure that all timber
sales to the region are perfectly legal. The move is intended to help protect th
e remaining trees in the West African nation, which is home to most of the regio
n’s trees.
Boston, MA, May 31, 2011 -- Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), an alternative inv
estment advocacy group, which supports environmentally and socially responsible
investments, backs the move by Liberia. Anthony Johnson, the organization’s partne
r and analyst explained, “Liberia’s forests were all but destroyed by warlords, befo
re a UN embargo was introduced in 2003 to stop the trade of these ‘logs of war’.”
“The news that Liberia’s elected President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, is taking further
measures to protect the region’s precious forests is very welcome,” added Johnson.
One of the most exciting developments in ensuring only legally felled trees are
traded is a new barcode system, explained AAA. The deal between the EU and Liber
ia requires every tree and every log to be barcoded, which will enable it to be
tracked from forest to destination.
Liberia is dependent on the export of its natural resources, but instead of limi
ting the business it can do with the EU – the largest market for its timber – the ne
w deal is expected to boost its potential trade. With the EU increasingly concer
ned about the source of the material it buys from abroad, it is vital that any c
ountry selling timber to the region demonstrates its commitment to these kinds o
f assurance schemes.
Showing that it can effectively control logging and export of sustainably produc
ed timber will also lead to further investment in the country, added Mr Johnson.
Contact :
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-898-6317
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com