๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ, ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ.
The Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Jiwoh E. Abdulai, who is also a great grandson of a Paramount Chief from the Kamajei chiefdom in Moyamba District, has engaged Paramount Chiefs on their obligations in protecting the environment and addressing other climate-related issues.
He observed that chieftaincy is a highly respected institution deeply embedded in the countryโs cultural and governance framework. Therefore, their roles at the local level are crucial in supporting the overall government policy on the environment and climate change.
The Minister made the call during a consultative engagement with stakeholders in the southern region, Kenema and Kailahun, on the review of the Forestry and Conservation of Wildlife Acts of 1988 and 1972, respectively, in Bo.
Hon Paramount Chief Alameen Kanneh of Koya Chiefdom, Kenema district, stated that it is important to protect the forest now more than ever, noting the effect of climate change and other related disasters, while informing his colleagues of some of the benefits his chiefdom is getting from the recognition of the Gola Tiwai complex by UNESCO as the first World Heritage site in Sierra Leone.
Legal consultant Roland S. V. Wright stated that this consultation exercise aims to put the voice of community stakeholders at the centre of the process, ensuring that the new law not only protects the forest and wildlife but also benefits the people.
FAO Country Representative, Sahid Abubakarr Bancie, stated that FAOโs commitment to this sector is clearly reflected in their newly concluded Country Programme Framework (CPF), which prioritises the sustainable management of natural resources as a cornerstone for achieving agri-food systems transformation, in direct alignment with the national priorities and broader UN food systems agenda.
He reaffirms FAOโs readiness to provide continued technical support, while thanking the EU for providing the Funds.
Senior Permanent Secretary, Elizabeth Ellie, noted that reviewing these laws will address the emerging issues associated with the current trend in managing forests and wildlife.
Chairman Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Environment and Climate Change, Alhaji Hon. Yusuf Mackery, highlighted recent reforms and reviews of laws, like the Acts of EPA, NPAA, and other related agencies, to the current trends in addressing climate change issues.
Reviewing the countryโs main forestry and wildlife conservation laws is a crucial step in tackling emerging issues and improving the governance framework for the protection and sustainable management of Sierra Leoneโs natural resources.
ยฉNFI Communications
