By Dadson A. Musa

The Paramount Chief of Kowa Chiefdom, Amy Tattor Tibbie Kallon has in a press conference in Freetown outlined measures to ‘stop deforestation’ in her chiefdom. Led by the environment minister, Jiwoh Abdullai, it was revealed that consultations have been done across the 190 chiefdoms across Sierra Leone on plans for all Paramount chiefs to work with local councils to educate their subjects to comply with the rules. ‘ Paramount chiefs are closer to the people which is why we have decided to engage them to prevail on their subjects to stop charcoal burning, timber logging and cutting of sticks.’ This engagement, the minister went on was to encourage them to ‘ to suggest alternative means of livelihood’ so that deforestation can stop. This engagement came up as a result of flooding, rise in temperatures and crop failures which are all adversely affecting our way of life and threatening our existence.

On his part, the local government minister, Tamba Lamina revealed that they are ‘ going to review the chieftaincy act to ensure climate change issues are dealt with to save our country from its adverse effects.’ That they have made efforts to highlight the benefits of not cutting down trees, not burning charcoal and not logging timber. And that as a ministry, they will be monitoring these chiefdoms to make sure they comply. Speaking on the issue, P.C Tibbie informed that ‘ forests help us get sustainable rain for our survival so we must avoid cutting them down to avoid dehydration.’ That due to climate change issues, crop yields have not been good due to weather pattern changes which lead rainfall distortion. She revealed that she has started engaging chiefdom stakeholders on a monthly basis. Going further she said that ‘ upland rice farming is discouraged as her people are being entreated to practise swamp farming to avoid cutting down of trees.’ P. C. Amy Tattor Kallon Tibbie said that she has been encouraging her people to practise planting economic trees like mango, orange, coffee, cacao, oil palm, banana, cashew, etc which can doubly benefit them. In responding to questions, she sounded optimistic that these measures are going to ‘ mitigate the effects of climate change on Sierra Leoneans so that we live in a safe and mutually beneficial environment.’