Sierra Leone’s National Policy on the Environment (1995) and the Environment Protection Act (2000) provide a blueprint for sustainable development in the country based on proper environmental management, with a particular emphasis on forests. However, there had been little implementation of forest policies at the grassroots level, and efforts have not been well-coordinated. It was in this context that a national forest policy and advocacy project in Sierra Leone was initiated.
The National Forest Policy and Advocacy Project in Sierra Leone
The project conducted a critical assessment of government forest policies and legislation. It sought to develop and promote new legislative, regulatory, and institutional approaches that would be able to adequately address forest degradation in both protected and non-protected areas. The project was managed by two committees: a Task Force Committee and a National Forest Policy and Advocacy Committee. The Task Force Committee consisted of four members drawn from two governmental agencies (Forestry and Environment Division), an NGO (Conservation Society of Sierra Leone), and the University of Sierra Leone, and it had the responsibility for implementing the projects. The National Forest Policy and Advocacy Committee consisted of 30 members from government agencies, local NGOs, international NGOs, civil society, and the University of Sierra Leone, and it was responsible for project supervision.
One of the key activities of this project was to advocate for inclusion of forest and wildlife laws into the training programmes of law enforcing bodies. Two training programmes have now been conducted for the Sierra Leone Police Force on various topics, including environmental degradation laws, regulations, policies, and international conventions (including CITES). The training targeted recruits in the training school and senior police officers from various regions in the country.
For more information, contact cssl@sierratel.sl