Why are roads a challenge for Liberia’s forestry industry?

The forestry industry in Liberia faces significant challenges in exploiting its rainforests primarily due to the country's poor road infrastructure. While Liberia possesses valuable hardwood timber resources, particularly in the eastern, central, and western regions, the lack of adequate roads makes the extraction and transportation of these forest products difficult.1

This logistical hurdle is compounded by the fact that only a small percentage of roads throughout the country are paved. Although primary roads exist to connect administrative and economic centers, the overall state of the transportation network limits the efficiency of the forestry sector. Consequently, even though timber concessions operate in areas like the southeast and northwest, the poor condition of the road system remains a persistent barrier to the full development and recovery of the industry.21