On the 8th anniversary of the devastating Freetown landslide, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is calling for urgent action to protect Sierra Leone’s environment.
Speaking on Thursday, Country Director Yvonne Forsen warned that deforestation has worsened since the 2017 disaster and must be addressed to prevent future landslides, floods, and long-term challenges like water shortages and rising temperatures.
Forsen highlighted the WFP’s new Nature Nourishes Project, which will benefit 90 chiefdoms across the country. The project focuses on restoring forests and water sources, offering alternative jobs, creating sustainable land-use plans, training local forest guards, and promoting eco-tourism and climate-smart farming. She urged government ministries to align with the initiative to ensure its success.
Paramount Chief and Member of Parliament for Moyamba District, Hon. Mima Kajue, shared her community’s success in moving away from charcoal burning. Instead, they have adopted swamp rice farming and planted 100 hectares of cashew trees to create jobs for youth. With training support from Njala University, many young people are now earning a stable income through farming.
Holger Rommen from the European Union (EU) also addressed the crisis, noting that deforestation is a serious threat to Sierra Leone’s environment and communities. He confirmed that the EU has committed Le250 million to help protect ecosystems and fight climate change.
All speakers emphasized that environmental protection must be a shared national priority to build a safer and more sustainable future.
By James Conteh
