Liberia, July 9 -- The Civil Society Oil Palm Working Group (CSO-OPWG) has alarmed over what it terms as an escalating threat to Liberia's forests, biodiversity and national security.

The group observed growing wave of illegal migration, unauthorized cocoa farming, illegal mining and how forest encroachment are rapidly expanding across the country.

Speaking at a press briefing in Paynesville, outside Monrovia on Wednesday, Mr. Dayugar Johnson, Team Leader of the Civil Society-led Independent Forest Monitoring and Management (CS-IFM) and Chair of the NGO Coalition of Liberia, said Liberia's forests are facing unprecedented pressure from illegal agricultural activities, particularly the rapid expansion of cocoa farms.

"Our forests are u...