The rapid demand for wood products globally has put pressure on natural forests. Therefore, global efforts are now being directed toward establishing plantation forests to fill the wood supply gap while reducing the pressure on natural forests. This study conceptualized the socio-economic contribution of large-scale plantation forests to adjacent rural communities in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone based on the local perceptions of 125 households interviewed during data collection. To complement the household survey data, two forest-plantation experts were interviewed. The study found that local communities mainly benefit from plantation forestry through employment, improved road conditions, and water well constructions. However, the delivery of these benefits differed among the communities depending on the spatial distance from the plantation forestry central office. Benefits related to improvements in road conditions were perceived higher in the more far away communities. The trend is similar for the perception of benefits from plantation forestry activities: the farthest community with limited opportunities for alternative livelihood options appreciated the plantation forestry benefits highly and as fairly distributed. The results further revealed that perceived benefits from the plantation forestry industry, specifically employment and income, were rather unevenly distributed because the elites were able to capture more benefits th