The Forestry Development Authority (FDA) is representing Liberia at the Thirty-First Session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), where global leaders, climate experts, development partners, and civil society actors are gathering to accelerate action on climate commitments and sustainable development.
The conference, taking place from November 9 to 20 at the Antalya EXPO Center in Türkiye, has attracted nearly 200 countries and more than 60,000 participants under the banner of an “Implementation COP,” emphasizing the transition from climate pledges to measurable action.
Leading the Liberian delegation is FDA Managing Director Rudolph J. Merab Sr., who serves as Head of Delegation. He is accompanied by Deputy Managing Director for Community, Conservation and Carbon Nora G. Bowier, who serves as Deputy Head of Delegation; John S. McKay Jr., Technical Manager for Carbon; Weedor Hawa Gray, Technical Manager for Community; Marcus B. George, Chief Park Warden for the Kwa Proposed Protected Area; and Otis W. Blamoo, Regional Forester for Region Two.
Hosted by Türkiye under the presidency of Murat Kurum, COP31 is facilitating high-level discussions on climate adaptation, carbon markets, clean energy transition, climate finance, and mechanisms to address climate-related loss and damage. The event marks a significant milestone as the international community reflects on a decade of progress since the adoption of the Paris Agreement.
Conference activities are being conducted across two principal venues. The Blue Zone hosts official negotiations among governments and international bodies, while the Green Zone serves as a platform for innovation, public engagement, and collaboration among civil society organizations, researchers, and private-sector stakeholders.
For Liberia, the summit presents an important opportunity to strengthen its voice in global climate negotiations while advancing national priorities related to forest conservation, sustainable development, and climate resilience.
The FDA delegation is actively engaging with two major negotiating blocs representing developing countries: the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) and the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group. Through these platforms, Liberia is contributing to discussions on equitable climate financing, adaptation support, loss-and-damage funding, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at helping vulnerable nations confront the growing impacts of climate change.
A major focus of the FDA’s engagement is the ongoing negotiations surrounding Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which governs international carbon market mechanisms. Discussions under Articles 6.2 and 6.4 are particularly significant for Liberia as they address environmental integrity standards, benefit-sharing arrangements, and frameworks for bilateral carbon trading.
These negotiations have gained increased relevance for Liberia following recent progress toward establishing a national carbon market system, including the advancement of the National Carbon Market Policy and the creation of the National Carbon Markets Authority. FDA officials are closely monitoring deliberations to
ensure that emerging global standards align with Liberia’s efforts to develop transparent and sustainable carbon market opportunities.
Equally important are discussions on Forest Carbon and REDD+ implementation, which are central to Liberia’s climate and conservation agenda. FDA representatives are participating in technical sessions examining forest monitoring systems, land-use data collection, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) accounting methodologies, and forest reference levels.
The sessions are expected to support Liberia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen forest carbon accounting and reporting systems while fulfilling commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Another priority area for the delegation is the proposed Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), an emerging international financing mechanism designed to reward countries that successfully conserve tropical forests. FDA officials are taking part in side events and financial roundtables focused on the facility’s development and potential benefits for heavily forested nations.
With approximately 6.6 million hectares of tropical rainforest, Liberia is viewed as a country that could potentially benefit from future conservation-based financing arrangements. The discussions offer an opportunity for the country to explore new avenues for mobilizing resources to protect forests while creating sustainable economic opportunities for local communities.
Beyond the formal negotiations, the FDA delegation is engaging development partners, donors, investors, and civil society organizations through strategic meetings and networking events at the Liberia National Pavilion. The pavilion serves as a key platform for showcasing Liberia’s climate and forest governance initiatives while fostering international partnerships.
Delegates are also participating in sessions at the Capacity-Building Hub, where they are examining global best practices in sustainable forest management, forest law enforcement, technical cooperation, and innovative wood-processing technologies.
FDA officials say Liberia’s participation at COP31 reflects the government’s commitment to advancing sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and carbon market readiness. The engagement also supports the FDA’s People, Planet and Profit vision and aligns with the Government of Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
As global climate negotiations continue in Antalya, Liberia is positioning itself to leverage international partnerships, financing opportunities, and technical expertise that can help safeguard its forests while promoting sustainable economic growth and improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities
