SMFG seeks to support local authorities and communities to pursue village-level land-use and local development planning.
A key component of this will be to support local communities and authorities to plan and implement sustainable land-uses in their traditional territories. This is particularly important in view of the risk of unmanaged population influx and unplanned land occupation, which could cause significant local environmental and social problems.
They planned where roads should go, along with public buildings like markets, schools, health facilities, a youth centre and religious centres. To avoid spontaneous settlements, they planned where future development of the village would occur, and where it would be forbidden due to considerations like protection of water courses, sacred sites or Mount Nimba.
These would serve as masterplans for agricultural support and villages’ future infrastructure and expansion, in manners consistent with the sustainable development and conservation objectives. They would also be fully grounded in traditional, village-level land-tenure systems which direct de facto how land is used in rural areas.
A plan is worth nothing unless it is implemented. SMFG hopes to support these locally developed land-use plans with tangible assistance starting when the first pilot plans are adopted. Over the longer term, when the mechanisms for redistribution of revenues from mining provide significant annual resources for development in Lola Prefecture, these land-use plans will provide the roadmaps for the area’s sustainable development.