AYV News, July 8, 2024.

The European Union, in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, has signed today a 660,000 Euro grant agreement with the National Protected Areas Authority (NPAA) and Loma Conservation Community Programme (LCCP) to implement a three-year project to protect the biodiversity of Loma Mountain and its neighbouring areas.

The intervention will be implemented by NPAA and LCCP in close collaboration with the chiefdoms of Sandor, Nyedu, Nieni and Barawa-Wollay.

The 660,000 euros grant will support an innovative, people centred project around three main pillars:

Conservation of the landscape: the project aims to consolidate the boundaries of the National Park and its buffer zones, providing the park with an effective management plan and ensuring proper monitoring and protection of its biodiversity. This will improve the conservation status of endangered species such as the chimpanzee, and reduce deforestation.

Territorial governance: the mountain’s neighbouring communities, as the park’s primary custodians, will participate in the park’s governance through co-management systems, and through a land-use review that contributes to landscape protection by empowering local communities to adopt sustainable resource management practices.

Green Economy: with an innovative approach, the project will promote essential local infrastructures, social services and alternative livelihoods activities such as agroforestry or ecotourism led by the involved communities. These interventions will allow communities to decide on their future development, and will prevent the intensive use and depletion of natural resources by illegal and irregular productive activities.

With the launching of this project, the EU is supporting the conservation of the 80% of the Natural Parks in Sierra Leone. This is only the start, since we will be soon supporting other protected areas, said Gerald Hatler, Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Sierra Leone. 9% of the total land area of Sierra Leone is designated as National Park or other forms of protected areas. This is remarkable, but still far from the 30% target by 2030 of the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity framework. Moreover, the country faces one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, with an estimated rate of two percent per year. It is time that we gather our efforts to improve the conservation of Loma Mountains. It is not only a priority, but also an environmental urgency. If we do not act decisively, it will be too late.

The project is part of EU broader initiative NaturAfrica that supports biodiversity conservation in the continent. It identifies key landscapes for conservation and development where the EU will focus its support to create jobs, improve security and sustainable livelihoods, while preserving the ecosystems and wildlife that are vital to all.

Working with indigenous communities and women is at the heart of the NaturAfrica approach, and will be at the centre of the intervention in Loma Mountains.

For the first time, the project will create a fund to finance economic development activities in those communities that contribute to the park’s conservation. This recognizes the essential work of the people in protecting the environment.

The signing of this contract commits us to work together more closely towards our common goal, the pursuit of environmental programs, stated Richard Marah, Director of LCCP, at this moment of celebration, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone whose dedication and efforts have contributed to the finalization of this project.