Liberia: LLA Conducts Land Use, Management Training in Bomi

The Liberia Land Authority (LLA), through the Land Use and Management Department, on Monday, February 6, concluded a two-day regional training for stakeholders on the importance of land use and management in Tubmanburg, Bomi County.

The training was titled "Advancing Sustainable Urbanism and Rural Development through Land Use Planning and Management." The initiative is being supported by the Inclusive Land Administration and Management Project (ILAMP) and implemented by Lantmateriet, an international organization 

The training, which started on Monday, February 6, brought together stakeholders from various sectors involved in urban and rural planning activities, including city mayors, superintendents, customary land development and management committees (CLDMCs), members of civil society organizations (CSOs), Liberia Land Authority county land offices (CLOs), and land use and management headquarters staff.

It also educated participants on four (4) legal instruments developed by the LLA: the national land use and management policy, urban zoning of land use regulations, participatory land use planning guidelines, and the framework for rural land use regulations.

LLA Commissioner for Land Use and Management, Ellen O. Pratt and Christopher Byren, project manager of the ILAMP 

The above-mentioned instruments, according to LLA press release, will be used to regulate the location and uses of land, the nature and the extent of the uses of land in accordance with a comprehensive plan for the purpose of promoting health, safety, sustainability, and general welfare of the cities and rural communities within the Republic of Liberia.Additionally, the training will enhance participants’ knowledge on rural and urban land use management and planning activities in cities as well as rural communities.

Speaking on behalf of Bomi County’s Superintendent at the opening ceremony held on Monday, was the county’s Inspector, Varney E. K. McKeevey, emphasized the importance of land usage and management to the continuous existence of humankind and must be taken seriously.

He stated among many things that the issue of land is a serious matter among Liberians as compared to the past stressing that land must be managed or used properly for the betterment of tomorrow’s future leaders.

Mckeevey said land matter is a delicate issue nowadays in the country to the extent that to find a piece of land is not that easy, and paid tribute to the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), local leaders including civil society organizations, local land officials in those counties together to discuss land issues.

Also speaking, Christopher Byren, Inclusive Land Administration and Management Project Manager from Sweden. He stated that land matter is vital to every humankind to the extent that activities surrounding it should be taken seriously, because for them they see the project by putting decentralization initiative of the Liberian government and its people including LAA important that land issue must be taken to the people.

For her part, Ellen O. Pratt, Commissioner with oversight for Land Use and Management Department, Liberia Land Authority (LLA) said the capacity building exercise for local communities began last year and it is continuing, therefore it must be taken seriously because it is knowledge-sharing for everyone.

She said land is important therefore Liberians should know the use and manage it wisely, stressing the need for the communities’ engagement so as to have better understanding of what land means.

Pratt urged the participants to make use of the available knowledge being provided to them on the various topics.

"This land we have is not going anywhere." So, the more we talk about it and know how to use it, and the more tools we give our community to use it, it becomes good for everyone," she said.