By Prince J. Musa in Kenema
The United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone Maria Briwah has said they are committed to supporting the work of the Gola Forest in Sierra Leone. Madam Briwah was speaking to Gola Forests officials in Kenema during a visit last week.
“US government will continue to support Sierra Leone on sustainable conservation and environmental programs,” she said.
Gola Forest was declared as a national park for conservation in 2011. But it has faced challenges with neighboring communities over the years. The status of the forest meant that communities around cannot continue with commercial activities like farming, logging and hunting.
A USAID sponsored project known as West Africa Biodiversity Initiative for Climate Change (WABICC) is currently helping to promote sustainable agricultural and other livelihood activities for communities around the forest.
Manger of the Gola Forest, Francis Massaquoi, said: “WABICC project through funds from USAID has contributed to build local institutions within the community forest management such as forest management committee which allows the local people to take stewardship. And sustainable forest for ecosystem has encouraged environmental education.”
Massaqoui said through the project, environmental education has also been taken to schools to raise awareness among the next generation.
He expressed delight for the visit and explained how much support this will give them in their work to protect the environment.
“This shows the US government’s commitment and support towards conservation and protection of our environment globally,” he said.
The forest has established several departments over the years to perfect its work. Some of these departments include: research and monitoring unit, park operations, community development and cocoa production units.
Massaqoui said through the work of the Research and Monitoring department, they have been able to document animal and plant species.
“The Research and Monitoring department in the Gola Rainforest has database on social and biodiversity which has been able to discover that there are sixty species been identified within the reserve. This comprises of threatened and endangered species. There is also over 899 plants with 22 trees, 49 mammals, of which 9 are threatened species,” he explained.
Ambassador Biriwah’s visit to Kenema saw her visit the Rainbow Center, Luke Commercial Secondary School and One Gola Cocoa Farming.
At the Luke Commercial Secondary school, the proprietor, Joseph Samba Keifala, said the school has a cordial relationship with Gola Rain Forest Conservation and the school has the largest population of children from Gola forest operations chiefdoms in the Kenema district.
“We do expect much support from Gola rainforest scholarship program which is meant for children struggling in the rural families,’’ Mr. Keifala stated.
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