Freetown, 30th October 2026- Sierra Leone has taken a significant step towards accessing international climate finance with the validation of the methodology of its first Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL), a key benchmark that will enable the country to measure emissions and removals from its forests and qualify for results-based climate funding.
Developed under the Support to Sustainable Forestry in Sierra Leone Project, the FREL combines data from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) and the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS), providing the most comprehensive assessment of the country’s forest resources in decades.
Speaking at the validation workshop, Director of Forestry, Mrs Kate M. B. Karemo-Garnett, said the exercise is allowing government institutions, technical experts and partners to review and validate the methodologies, assumptions and data sources underpinning Sierra Leone’s FREL.
The process includes the assessment of country-specific emission factors for biomass and dead organic matter, combined with activity data generated through forest monitoring systems and satellite imagery.
She noted that particular attention is being given to validating the methodologies used to calculate emissions and removals from deforestation, forest degradation, enhancement of forest carbon stocks and reforestation.
“By relying on nationally generated data rather than global default values, Sierra Leone is establishing a more accurate, transparent and credible basis for reporting emissions and demonstrating future reductions,” she said.
During the workshop, international FREL consultant Esther Mertens outlined the requirements and process for Sierra Leone’s FREL submission to the UNFCCC and highlighted opportunities for accessing climate finance through REDD+ and other results-based funding mechanisms.
She also presented the preliminary FREL analysis based on National Forest Inventory data and facilitated discussions on methodologies, assumptions and emissions estimates that will form the basis of the country’s final FREL report.
The workshop is expected to produce validated methodologies, agreed data sources and assumptions, technical material for the FREL report, and a roadmap for Sierra Leone’s submission to the UNFCCC.
Participants are also strengthening their understanding of IPCC guidelines and greenhouse gas reporting requirements.
Once submitted and technically assessed, the FREL will provide Sierra Leone with an internationally recognised benchmark against which future reductions in forest-sector emissions can be measured.
Beyond meeting reporting obligations, the FREL is expected to strengthen sustainable forest management, support climate action and position Sierra Leone to access much-needed international climate finance for conservation and restoration initiatives.
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