Mandate:

 Promote the involvement and participation of rural communities in decision-making and identification, establishment and management of community forest resources;
 Formulate policies and regulations relating to communal forests and community forestry;
 Development procedures for identification, establishment and development of Management Plans for communal and community forests;
 Monitor community and communal forests management activities and ensure enforcement of all regulations;
 Coordinate and facilitate community development activities with NGOs and INGOs;

The three divisions within the department are:

1. Community Forest Resource Planning;
2. Community Forestry Extension Services and Mobilization
3. Community Empowerment

Achievements:

During the period in retrospect, the department accomplished the following:

1. Conducted a five day on-the-site training of poverty reduction and livelihood improvement (nursery and animal husbandry) in Sinoe and Grand Gedeh counties;
2. Coordinated the deployment of regional staff;
3. Held consultative meetings with Superintendents of Sinoe and Grand Gedeh Counties relative to the endorsement of Community Forestry Support to the sustainable livelihood initiative projects around the Sapo National Park;
4. Chaired the Community Forestry working Group for drafting of the Comprehensive Law governing Community Rights with respect to forest lands;
5. Held awareness and promotion meetings with local communities to organize Committees on Community Forestry;
6. Trained 60 women in animal husbandry and nursery establishment and maintenance and delivered stock pigs to them;
7. Visited and inspected piggery and oil palm projects in support of livelihood initiative support projects;
8. Conducted Market Surveys in 10 communities around the Sapo National Park and organized Community-Based Organizations in 5 communities;
9. Purchased and distributed assorted vegetable and ornamental seeds for community projects;
10. Conducted an assessment on the Bomi Reforestation Plantation with respect to encroachment and degradation;