Monrovia, Liberia-Liberia Forest Media Watch/Rural Reporters News Network Affiliate Journalist, Samuel Borlay has won the third-place forest reporting award. The award ceremony was organized by the Liberia Media Center (LMC) on Friday, December 6, 2024 at Corina Hotel in Monrovia.
Seven journalists were shortlisted for the award. Of the seven, five were from LFMW/RRNN. Samuel Borlay secured the third-place in the prestigious media award. LFMW’s affiliate journalists shortlisted include, Jerome Saye, Emmanuel Akoi, Ezekiel Geeplay, Samuel Borlay and Korto Snowe.
The award ceremony, which recognizes outstanding contributions to environmental journalism, highlighted the critical role that reporters play in raising awareness about Liberia’s rich but vulnerable forests. Samuel Borlay’s dedication to reporting on environmental issues has earned him this notable recognition, showcasing his commitment to the community and the environment.
In a heartfelt message, Journalist Samuel Borlay thanked LMC for recognizing journalists for their outstanding performance, adding, the award serves as inspiration for him and other journalists. He extended special thanks and appreciation to the management of the Liberia Forest Media Watch for affording him the opportunity to showcase his talent.
The story reported by Samuel Borlay exposed illicit cross border forest activities between Liberia and Sierra Leone via Vahun, Lofa County. As a result of the story, the Government of Liberia through the FDA, announced that it has set up an Intersectoral Taskforce to monitor illicit cross border forest activities.
Getrude Korvayan Nyaley, FDA’s Deputy Managing Director for Commercial and Technical Services, said “The Inter-Sectoral Task Force is not only for Vahun situation, but it is to respond to every issue that has to do with inter-sectorial clearances issues. For example, different types of borderline encroachment on forest and forest estates. On Wednesday the taskforce departs Monrovia to Vahun. DSAs have been processed, gasoline have been processed, and vehicles are ready. The taskforce is made up of the Liberia Immigration Services (LIS), Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), and the Forestry Development Authority (FDA)”.
On 20 June 2024, the Taskforce paid its first visit to Vahun to ascertain reports of cross border forest illegalities. The team held meetings with community members and ordered immediate halt to all cross-border activities, including the sale of forest products to Sierra Leone.
Also, as a result of the story, the people of Vahun have organized themselves into a corporative and established a community logging company called “Mende Guma Logging Company. The aim of the initiative is to support development in Vahun since they are no longer allowed to trade timbers to the Sierra Leone market.
The Mende Guma Logging Company is expected to supervise or regulate all logging related activities in Vahun and ensure proceeds from logging are directed towards the community development.
