By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Conservation Society Sierra Leone (CSSL) has briefed media practitioners on the preservation of the forest ecosystems.
“We believe that with partnership with the media to propagate the essence of the conservation and management of the forest will save this country from a lot of natural disasters,” stated Emurana Kemoh Sowa, National Coordinator of the CSSL.
The CSSL engaged media practitioners on Tuesday 31st August 2021 at the Youths Action for Development (YAD) office on Maxwell Khobe Street in Kenema.
The two-year programme is being sponsored with funds from the European Union under the PAPFor Project. The project aims at supporting preservation of ecosystems in West Africa by promoting an ‘endogenous, sustainable and inclusive development’ of West African forest areas.
Sowa affirmed that the West Africa biodiversity and climate change (WABIC) was what precipitated the birth of the PAPFor project and that it is from that background that the PAPFor project was initiated to ensure the effective and efficient management of the forests and to maintain environmental protection.
He also noted that that will aid the populace to understand the collaboration between the locals in the CSSL in their conservation and management efforts of the Gola Forest National Park and Kambui Forest. Sowa also stated that the work of the CSSL will help prevent natural disasters from occurring in the seven chiefdoms where they are operating.
He reiterated that the project aims to ensure the effective management of the reserved forests.
The CSSL Boss emphasised that the importance of conservation and co-management of the natural resources will enable the safe guarding of endangered animals and further prevent their extinction.
The Regional Manager East of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Abdulai Bah told media practitioners that EPA does support any institution that stands to promote environmental protection. He spoke about the importance of the strategies that he said will help to mitigate climate change and ensure sustainable environment management. He noted that the EPA encourages partners to conserve natural resources in order to prevent natural disasters.
The EPA regional boss stated that a new unit has been created to handle natural resources together with a climate change secretariat with a policy that will guide the unit for effective functioning in helping to preserve the environment and the resources.
In his statement, the Paramount chief of Koya chiefdom, Alamin Kanneh said the media has great tasks in rebranding the image of the country in terms of conservation. He added that the country has lost of it natural resources through activities that cannot be regain easily.
PC Kanneh stated that Sierra Leone as a nation was known to be one of the most forested countries in the sub region. He however admonished the populace to be mindful of environmental degradation. This, he said, has had a negative impact on the lives of people and wildlife.
He maintained that the economic backbone of the nation is hinged on the environmental condition. He affirmed that agricultural productivity has been badly affected as a result of deforestation and other illegal activities on the environment.
He said Sierra Leone has been classed as one of the disaster prone countries in the sub region, which should be a wakeup call for everyone to mitigate any potential natural hazard.
Christian Lansana, the Forest Management Officer of the Gola Rain Forest said they are challenged with persistent deforestation within Gola operational chiefdoms. He maintained that there is a continued mining activity in the National Park.
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