By Sulaiman Jalloh
In a landmark event aimed at protecting Sierra Leone’s Forest and improving climate change in the country under the ‘Protect Sierra Leone initiative,’ His Excellency Vice President Dr. Mohammed Juldeh Jalloh has on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the Bintumani International conference center in Freetown launched “The National Forest and Climate Forum” and for more actions.
In her welcome address, Madam Kate Garnet, Director of Forestry, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, said the vision was not just a memory of how Sierra Leone was but a testament to how the country would be to restore, protect, and change the natural forest. She added that it is a vision that recognizes how the forests are important to the growth of the country, adding it was not just a forum but a call to action that would live for generations to come. “The future of Sierra Leone’s Forest depends on the choices we make” she stated
Vice President Dr. Mohammed Juldeh Jalloh, on behalf of the President, thanked the minister of environment and climate change for the Protect Sierra Leone initiative, saying the forum was to share a common goal for the country and its citizenry, adding the country is recognized as biodiversity. He added that the upper Guinea Forest ecosystem is now fragmented across the African region, noting deforestation and land degradation have put the country’s forest under serious threat. “As a government, we remain committed to advancing this work,” he promised, noting they have developed a biodiversity framework and a framework on national biodiversity finance strategy while calling on mining companies to take full responsibility for environmental restoration. VP Jalloh thanked local leaders for their commitment to protecting land conservation across the country.
Looking into the future, the vice president expressed optimism about protecting the already degraded land and securing resources for future generations and that they aim to engage local communities. He said such programs would positively impact lives by providing jobs for citizens.
He, however, promised a Comprehensive climate legislation that includes climate actions to address the issue of plastic in the environment. He urged everyone to support the initiative for the progress of the country and that the vision is achievable while calling on everyone to support the initiative to revitalize and preserve the forests.
He reiterated to call on all stakeholders to increase funding and investment for the protection of nature to enhance the country’s climate change while urging the need to explore ways to raise the financing required for impactful actions. “Let us work together to make Sierra Leone a shining example for environmental leadership,” he said.
Jiwoh Emmanuel Abdulai, minister of Environment and climate change, gave a story of conversation in Sierra Leone, noting nature provided food for the people and protected the streams that provide water for the people, saying although wells and streams dry during the dry season.
According to him, his ministry has developed four pillars to protect the environment and climate change; one he said is to protect the most critical terrestrial biodiversity through four integrated landscapes, revitalize and expand community forests, and protect and sustain the country’s marine resources, empathizing to deal with deforestation. “Protecting natural resources is vital to our survival” Minister Jiwoh underscored. He furthered that deforestation has affected the Guma Dam that was built to supply the Freetown municipality and that protecting the national park is critical while promising to work with the Ministry of Fisheries to provide more protein for the citizenry. He called on everyone to join his ministry to protect Sierra Leone.
Speaking on behalf of World Bank Group Sierra Leone, Abdu Muwonge, country manager, started by saying the group has taught about such forums to discuss the much-pressing need to protect the environment and climate change in the country while giving a few testimonies his organization had gathered during national consultations. When further said the forum was vital as serious e matter was discussed.
According to him, they want to support countries that want to fight against climate change. He added that they had a $60 M project while thanking the ministry and the government of President Bio for the collaboration
Daniela Raik, Executive Vice President, of Conservation International, said she was inspired by the initiative undertaken by the government of Sierra Leone, noting the task ahead is monumental while promising to support the initiative for current and future generations. Madam Raik added that the African forests are important to the biodiversity, and protecting the forest ecosystem protects its plants and the people, saying the outbreaks of the pandemic are a result of the impact of climate change. “Together, we can build solutions that would protect the people and the environment,” she remarked, emphasizing her organization’s willingness to collaborate to drive conservation efforts that would last long.
Also speaking was the minister of local government, Ambassador Tamba Lamina, who shared insights and said the journey would involve lots of activities, adding Forest and Climate Change are local issues that require local solutions while committing to continue to engage and discuss issues and take actions.
The three-day forum ended on Thursday, March 20, 2025, and solutions to protecting and preserving the environment were adequately discussed.