- The main green house gas that leads to climate change is carbon in the form of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide produced by the burning of fuel. These gases can easily be absorbed by large vegetation such as trees, but deforestation reduces the quantity of carbon that can be absorbed.
REDD+ is the reduction of carbon emissions from deforestation and degradation of the land plus an emphasis on sustainable livelihoods for the 20% of the world’s population that depend directly on forests. REDD+ would therefore become a global mechanism to entrust both the care and benefits of the forest to a system of co-management between people and governing authorities.
This was the explanation…
- The nearly 100,000 thousand Sierra Leoneans living directly within or upon the fringes of the Western area Peninsula Forest are witnessing something new recently. Through the WAPFOR Project, the EU is providing funds through Welt Hunger Hilfe to conserve the forest and its watershed.
To change the attitudes of the people, film festivals are being carried to the fringe communities in thirty-odd locations with conservation, biodiversity, climate change and natural resource managements as main topics. Implemented by the Union of Environmental Journalists through the ENGO consortium, ENFORAC, the road-show is attracting larger than expected audiences.
Africanews.com witnessed the most re…
Satellite pictures from Sierra Leone reveal that in just the past seven years there has been a housing incursion into half of the Waterloo extension of the Western Area Peninsula. In a major project to prevent further damage to the forest, the communities around the forest have been divided into clusters for training and information on conservation. - Waterloo and the surrounding communities of Macdonald, Kerry Town, Russell and During Town have placed an emphasis on woodlot management in the latest session of training for Community Forest management, sponsored by the WAPFOR Project.
Residents of the outlying areas were particularly positive about moves to demarcate the peninsula forest. …
- For years, people living below the poverty line have resorted to forest exploitation to make money. This has not benefitted the forest which is now disappearing without signs of replacement. Not only is this deforestation depleting water reserves, but it is ruining the viability of the forest as a tourist attraction.
The Conservation of the Western Area Peninsula Forest and its Watershed Project aims to address this by convincing people to protect the forest. Residents of the Western Area who harvest wood from the forest seem to be accepting government moves to demarcate the forest but are asking for alternative livelihoods that do not depend on fire wood or charcoal. When interviewed b…
- A precedent in the prosecution of animal cruelty was set when the Magistrate Court in Port Loko town sentenced one Gibrilla Kamara to a jail term for one and a half years plus injury cost of 1.6 Million Leones for the theft and mutilation of cows in Makamisa Village, Marforki Chiefdom.
Last December, the crime involved the mutilation of four cows, resulting in the death of one.
The sentenced culprit admitted to the crime, saying it was in response to the destruction of his rice farm, by the cows. To confirm the allegation, blood stains were found on the farm of the perpetrator, who also produced the cutlass and parts from of the cow which he maimed and killed. Gibrilla Kamara also s…
- At the Ministry of Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security Conference Rom, Youyi Building, the minister, Dr. Sam Sesay chaired a presentation which he said was long overdue. He underscored the importance of water supply which is provided by the Western Area peninsula Forest and the need for closer collaboration between government, civil society and NGO’s for effective conservation.
According to Director of Forests A.B. Mansaray, the Participatory Mapping of the Western Area Peninsula Forest by the Environmental Forum for Acton, the Forestry Division and Welthungerhilfe based in the EU, is seen as one such collaboration effort.
In a bid to save the Western Area Forest…
- The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in collaboration with the Duke of Edinburgh Award International Africa Regional office organized a training of unit award leaders at the National Stadium Presidential Lounge with the theme: “Strategic Leadership and New Course” for unit award leaders.
Coordinator of the National Youth Award Scheme Alhaji M. Deen encouraged participants to deliberate fruitfully. Chairman of the National Youth Award Scheme Tony Morrison said the scheme was founded on the 10th of October by late president Siaka Probyn Stevens to encourage youths to be better leaders and to bridge the gap between the young and old.
Director of Youths, Anthony Koroma…
- The Freetown Urban and Peri-urban Agricultural Platform has turned the Mountain Farmers Association (MOFA) into the most successful local farmers group of the country’s Western Area. The Western Area, which is a large, mountainous peninsula, holds many valleys and water catchments at high altitudes providing an ideal climate for vegetable growing.
Africanews.com went on a field tour with MOFA to see what they were growing: lettuce, cucumbers, beans, spring onions, mint, parsley, thyme, rosemary, watermelons, pumpkins and carrots.
Representing the Western Area Agricultural Office, Haja Fatu Kamara said the Freetown Urban and Peri-urban Agricultural Platform serves as the interm…
- From dry land overlooking the Atlantic at high tide, a coconut tree stands tall in the water. Others had since fallen. This is in Bonthe district, on Sierra Leone’s southern coast. Here, the fishermen all say that salt water is intruding into the estuaries. There is a temporary boom in upriver fishing as the fish spawn deeper into the swamps. At Gangama, a riverside village the women and children scoop out fish from the marshes where rapidly declining water has left many trapped. Gleefully they report what they perceive as the madness of the fish, coming so far inland to escape the salt.
Bonthe’s mangroves are flourishing though; the dearth of population on Bonthe means less…
- The Deputy Minister of information and Communications Haja Saidata Sesay has stressed the need to protect the environment and its water catchments areas.
The Deputy Information Minister was speaking at a presentation ceremony on the findings of the sub-committee on the demarcation of the Western Area Peninsular forest reserve and its catchments.
The committee comprises the Ministry of Information and Communication, the Lands Country Planning and the Environment Ministry, the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Office of National Security and the Ministry of Local Government and Internal affairs.
The committee’s findings observed that there is alarming env…
- The Concern Worldwide and Coopi NGO’s in collaboration with the Freetown City Council, have launched an Urban Agricultural project in the Western Area Peninsula of sierra Leone.
The ceremony brought together various Agricultural groups in the Western Area.
The National Livelihood Security Programme Coordinator Tayoh Alabi dilated on Concern’s mission in the country, which he said focuses on primary Health, Education, Livelihood and Food Security.
He said they deal mainly with vulnerable ad depressed communities.
In presenting Coopi’s report, Marco Serena who titled their project “Freetown Fambul Farm” said their focus is on past work in Freetown U…
A Cordaid visiting team from The Netherlands comprising medical and media practitioners hosted in Sierra Leone by the Medical Research Center (MRC) has informed officials of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation about their goodwill mission to help promote maternal and new born health in the country. - Welcoming the team during a courtesy call on the Health and Sanitation Minister, Sheiku Tejan Koroma lauded Cordaid and MRC for their continued support towards the reduction of maternal and child mortality in the country.
The Minister noted the destruction caused to personnel and health facilities during the war and expressed gratitude to Cordaid for assisting the Ministry, the Government a…
Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma has been appointed Honorary President of the African Diplomatic Academy. Accepting the honor at a ceremony held at State House, President Koroma said that the honour has given him the opportunity to fully engage himself with the activities of the ADA. - The President disclosed that an agreement would be signed between Sierra Leone and the African Diplomatic Academy and hoped that the ADA would now be recognized in Africa and the World at large as a result of the expanded association with them.
He pointed out that the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Joseph Koroma would be responsible for coordinating the activities of the ADA to ensure that…
- The Ministery of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has officially launched the National Cultural Pride Week at a ceremony held at the National Stadium Brookfields.
The Executive Director Attitudinal and Behavioural Change secretariat Philip Conteh said culture is the way of life, noting that “the diversities of cultures in the country has made us more unique.”
A representative of the Sierra Leone Traditional Healers Association Chief Alimamy Sesay N’buma thanked the ABC Secretariat for organizing the programme and for recognizing the importance role of the Sierra Leone traditional Association towards furtherance of this nation.
Chief Alimamy Sesay called on gover…
- The Presiding Judge in the Cocaine Trials, Justice Nicolas Brown-Marke of the Freetown High Court Number One, has passed sentences on all fifteen accused persons on six count charges ranging from accessory before the fact of the same offence, accessory after the fact to the importation of cocaine-a prohibited drug without lawful authority, misprision of felony, possession of cocaine-a prohibited drug without lawful authority Contrary to Section Eight (A) of the National Drug Control Act and conspiracy to import a prohibited drug.
The first, second and third accused were found guilty of count one, two, four and six and their jail sentences per count range from five, three to two years t…
Sierra Leonean Members of Parliament who absent themselves from proceedings without prior notice will forfeit their sitting fees. Also, the Parliamentary canteen would be closed during sessions, acting Speaker of Parliament Chukuma Johnson said. - He said the directive is to safeguard the dignity of the House. He said people have raised concerns over the low attendance of MPs to Parliamentary sittings which is a disservice to the nation.
Johnson said that MPs are elected to represent and serve the interest of the people and therefore should remain committed. In another development, the opposition party, SLPP, has congratulated Johnson for his re-election as the Deputy Chairman of the A.P…
- AFRICANEWS.COM reporter Harold Williams from Sierra Leone has successfully covered events at the 14th Conference of Parties meeting in Poznan, Poland.
AFRICANEWS.COM can now enjoy the benefits of more accurate coverage of Climate Change topics from both the Sierra Leonean and African perspective, following a several weeks of communication between Harold Williams, climate change experts and the CCMP.
Professor Ogunlade Davidson, who is a Sierra Leonean and a Co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, told AFRICANEWS.COM that Africans should expect better clarifications on their obligations what they should expect in terms of the mitigation of carbon emissions and their…
- The Justice Sector Development Programme (JSDP) has handed over a newly constructed facility for female inmates at the Kenema Prison to Prison Department authorities.
The Women’s Section in the Kenema Prison is the first ever built in Sierra Leone, dedicated to female inmates with improved services separating them from the male section of the prison.
Funded by the UK’s Department for International development (DIFID) under the JSDP, the new facilities have been constructed by a local company, with the provision of health and medical services and vocational training facilities.
Various studies have shown that the human rights of women prisoners have been overlooked on…
- The Integrated National Action Plan for Avian and Human Influenza has been launched by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security.
The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Joseph Sam Sesay thanked the donor agencies for their contributions in developing the Avian and Human Influenza Integrated National Action Plan for Sierra Leone, describing it as a positive move towards stopping the entry and spread of the disease in the country.
Dr. Sam Sesay said the threat of the Avian Influenza pandemic is becoming critical because of the porosity of Sierra Leone’s borders and the free flow of trade with neighbor countries.
The Integrated Action Plan, if adequately funded and impl…
- A three day intensive orientation programme for newly appointed Mines Monitoring Officers of the Ministry of Mineral Resources has ended with the presentation of certificates to over one hundred and fifty Monitoring Officers.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary of Mines, Samuel Brima reminded the newly appointed officers of the challenges ahead and encouraged them to discharge their duties with commitment and sincerity of purpose to achieve the desired objectives.
He said the Government and the people greatly depend on them and gave them assurance of the Ministry’s support.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary advised the officers not to engage in illicit mining, as it is against the c…
Interpol is assisting the Sierra Leone Police while they are currently investigating the unauthorized landing of the Aircraft at the Lungi International Airport - AIG Munu informed Africa News that another international crime agency, called the Serious Organized Crime Agency in the United States (SOCA) is also assisting the Sierra Leone Police in the ongoing investigations of what he termed as an International Criminal Conspiracy.
Francis Munu also disclosed that culprits of the aircraft and cocaine saga would face several criminal charges that include the violation of Sierra Leone’s Airspace, unauthorized landing and the carrying of false passports among other crimes.
According…
- The Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Youth and Sports, Dr. Algassimu Jah had admonished delegates at the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Congress to vote for peace, progress and the development of football in the country.
Dr. Jah was speaking at the official opening of the Sierra Leone Football Association annual delegates Conference at the Miatta Conference hall, Youyi Building.
He urged stakeholders to work as one family and to demonstrate cohesiveness.
Dr. Jah advised the delegates to vote wisely, pointing out a change of their attitude for the furtherance of football in the country.
The President of SLFA, Nahim Khadie, who told the congress that his four…
- World Population Day was observed as well in Sierra Leone with the international theme: “Let’s Make Family Planning Real”.
The theme, according to Sister Laura Ezzu-Deen of the Planned Parenthood Association of Sierra Leone shows the importance of Family Planning as a human right.
She said family planning gives the choice of having children that can be catered for.
Sister Ezzu-Deen said population control is essential as it helps the government to plan and adequately distribute resources for the citizens.
As part of marking World Population Day, the Planned Parenthood Association in Sierra Leone target the Red Pump and Leicester Road Communities with free Fami…
An Egyptian delegation from Rice Inter- African community Exchange has disclosed plans to go into large scale rice production in Sierra Leone. - An Egyptian delegation from Rice Inter- African community Exchange has disclosed plans to go into large scale rice production in Sierra Leone.
Briefing the Agriculture Minister, the President of the Rice Inter-Africa Community exchange in Egypt, Mohamed Helwa, lauded the government for opening windows of opportunity to private sector involvement in agricultural Development and disclosed their intention to engage in large scale rice production.
The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Joseph Sam Sesay said that the decisions taken by the Egyptians to g…
- The President of the HIV/AIDS reporters Association (HARA) and Managing Editor of the New Citizen Newspaper Samuel Conteh has expressed his Organization’s desire to work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to meet its health care challenges.
Minister of Health Dr. Soccoh Kabia was at his Youyi Building Office informed of HARA’s commitment to assist the Ministry in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other dreadful diseases affecting the growth and development in the country through media sensitization and education.
The Minister described the role of the pandemic as life threatening even though the country’s prevalence rate is low. HARA, Mr…
- The Minister of Trade, Alimamy Koroma and Agriculture Minister Dr. Sam Sesay, have explained the Sierra Leone Government’s new regulations and the functions of their Ministries in the Timber business to manufacturers and exporters of the product in a joint ministerial meeting held at the Ministry of Trade.
Dr. Sesay said the Agriculture Ministry is responsible for the issuance of logging licenses and that his ministries will shortly come out with a scrutinized list of applicants in the logging business.
He further stated that his Ministry is also responsible to issue certificates of inspection and compliance.
Trade Minister, Alimamy Koroma said all licenses for manufacturing…
Millions of Euro worth in agricultural commodities are now accessible with the completion of a 3.5 mile sandy-road representing the last link between the Gbongokama Forest in Sierra Leone's southern Bonthe District and the commercial capital of Freetown, over 220 miles away. - Bonthe District is comprised of sandy farm-bush, palm forest and mangrove swamps bordered by patches of high canopy tropical rainforest. Typical of these patches is the Gbongokama Forest, three miles in circumference and representing yet another fragmented portion of West Africa’s dwindling Upper Guinean Rainforest Ecosystem.
The Upper Guinea Rainforest is a Global hotspot of biodiversity. It lies on the…
