By Emma Black

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has engaged national stakeholders on the outcome of regional consultations reviewing Sierra Leone’s outdated forestry and wildlife laws, with a focus on strengthening protections for forests and the animals that depend on them.

The engagement took place during a preparatory meeting on Thursday, 26th February 2026, at the FAO Head Office in Freetown. The national-level session, convened by the Ministry with participation from key government institutions and partners, examined critical sections of the Forest Act, particularly those relating to institutional coordination and intersectoral collaboration.

Discussions emphasized the urgent need to address the multiple drivers of deforestation and wildlife loss, including illegal logging, mining, agricultural expansion, bushmeat hunting, land degradation, and weak enforcement mechanisms. Stakeholders noted that effective forest governance requires stronger coordination among ministries responsible for lands, agriculture, mines, finance, and local government.

The outcomes of the meeting will inform a final validation workshop scheduled for the coming months in Freetown, where stakeholders will review and agree on major reforms to be incorporated into the amended Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Acts.

In his address, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jiwoh Emmanuel Abdulai, said the preparatory meeting was designed to consolidate findings from nationwide consultations, expert assessments, and technical reviews.

He explained that the review process aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the existing legal framework, including the Forestry Act of 1988 and the Wildlife Conservation Act of 1972, to ensure that the revised legislation is inclusive, responsive, and forward-looking.

According to the Minister, while the existing Acts have served the country for decades, they no longer adequately address emerging environmental challenges such as climate change resilience, carbon markets, ecosystem restoration, community forestry management, and equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms.

He expressed hope that the revised laws would provide stronger legal backing to protect forests and wildlife, align Sierra Leone with international environmental standards, and support global commitments on biodiversity and climate action.

Minister Abdulai stressed that law reform goes beyond textual amendments. “It is about shaping national direction,” he said, adding that the revised Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Acts should become progressive, enforceable, and people-centred instruments that protect Sierra Leone’s natural heritage while promoting responsible economic growth.

The review forms part of the European Union-funded “Support for Sustainable Forestry in Sierra Leone” project, implemented with technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The initiative seeks to strengthen the government’s capacity to measure, report, and monitor forest resources and land-use changes at both national and subnational levels.

Consultant Roland S.V. Wright noted that both the Forestry Act of 1988 and the Wildlife Conservation Act of 1972 are outdated and not aligned with current environmental realities. He said the review process involved a comprehensive analysis of Sierra Leone’s legislation, comparative studies of laws in the sub-region, and consultations with institutions and regional stakeholders to develop a working draft for national validation.

Stakeholders discussed key reform areas aimed at enhancing forest and wildlife protection:

Participants recommended formalising family and community land ownership structures, clearly demarcating protected areas, and strengthening local by-laws to reduce encroachment and land conflicts.

Proposals included increasing fines and penalties for illegal logging and wildlife trafficking, establishing a reforestation trust fund, and recruiting and training community members as forest rangers and tree planters to improve surveillance and compliance.

To reduce pressure on forests, stakeholders called for promoting carbon trading opportunities, developing alternative livelihoods for forest-dependent communities, and intensifying public awareness campaigns on conservation.

Recommendations were made to provide training, logistics, and regular dialogue platforms between government authorities and local communities to enhance collaboration and accountability.

Participants urged the conduct of nationwide surveys on endangered species and the integration of traditional conservation knowledge with modern scientific methods to protect forest ecosystems and wildlife habitats.

Representatives from universities, civil society organisations, the Environment Protection Agency, the National Protected Area Authority, and the Ministries of Finance, Lands, Agriculture, and Mines were among those in attendance.

If enacted, the revised Acts are expected to strengthen forest governance, curb biodiversity loss, enhance climate resilience, and ensure that both forests and wildlife species including endangered animals are protected for future generations while contributing to sustainable national development.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 4th March 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)