(pradd) – liberia - Land Tenure and Property Rights Portal

CONTENTSACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................... IIIEXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................V1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 12.0 STATUS OF CUSTOMARY PROPERTY RIGHTS AND LEGALGROUNDS FOR RECOGNITION ..................................................................... 53.0 GOVERNMENT’S INTERPRETATION OF SUPERIOR PROPERTYRIGHTS OVER LAND WITH MINERALS ....................................................... 94.0 INCREASING REGISTRATION OF ARTISANAL DIAMONDPRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 115.0 POLICY REFORMS ............................................................................................ 135.1 DEVELOP AN ARTISANAL DIAMOND MINING POLICY ................................................... 135.2 INTEGRATE ASDM INTO A BROADER NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT POLICY 155.3 ESTABLISH CLEAR LAND USE PRIORITIES .......................................................................... 155.4 DESIGN AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF LAND USE PLANNING ......................................... 165.5 ESTABLISH A MECHANISM FOR EVALUATION OF COMPETING LAND USE OPTIONS . 166.0 LEGAL REFORMS .............................................................................................. 196.1 INCORPORATE MINERAL POLICY PRINCIPLES INTO MINERALS AND MINING LAW .... 196.2 REPEAL THE NATURAL RESOURCES LAW ......................................................................... 196.3 AMEND ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS TO ARTISANAL MINING REALITIES ........................... 196.4 INCORPORATE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT INTO NATURAL RESOURCES LAWS .... 206.5 SECURE AND CLARIFY LAND TENURE RIGHTS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LANDCOMMISSION ........................................................................................................................ 207.0 REGULATORY REFORMS................................................................................ 237.1 PROMULGATE ARTISANAL DIAMOND MINING REGULATIONS ..................................... 237.2 CLARIFY AND SIMPLIFY THE STEPS FOR CLASS C ARTISANAL DIAMOND MININGLICENSE ................................................................................................................................. 247.3 CREATE INCENTIVES BY REDUCING THE COST OF THE LICENSEAND REVIEWING THE SIZE OF THE CLAIM ........................................................................ 247.4 EXTEND THE LICENSING PERIOD ....................................................................................... 257.5 DEVELOP BENEFIT-SHARING SCHEME FOR ARTISANAL MINING COMMUNITIES ......... 268.0 ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS ......................................................................... 298.1 ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE PROCESSES FOR RESOLVING DISPUTES OVERLAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES .................................................................................... 298.2 DECENTRALIZE LICENSING THROUGH A MOBILE LICENSING UNIT ............................. 298.3 STRENGTHEN INFORMATION EXCHANGE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTSAND NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES ...................................................................................... 298.4 CREATE PUBLIC-PRIVATE MICRO-FINANCE CREDIT CORPORATIONSFOR ARTISANAL MINERS ..................................................................................................... 308.5 REWARD CONTINUED REGISTRATION AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD .............................. 319.0 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................. 33BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 35APPENDIX 1: INSTITUTIONS AND PERSONS INTERVIEWED ANDCONSULTED DURING CONSULTANCY IN LIBERIA .............................. 39APPENDIX 2: ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR FORMULATING ARTISANALDIAMOND MINING POLICY, LAWS AND REGULATIONS ................... 41PRADD LIBERIA: A REVIEW OF THE LEGAL, REGULATORY AND POLICY FRAMEWORKGOVERNING ARTISANAL DIAMOND MINING IN LIBERIAi