Environment Ministry Engages Stakeholders on Woodlot Planting
Environment Ministry Engages Stakeholders on Woodlot Planting
Environment Ministry Engages Stakeholders on Woodlot Planting
Reaffirming Government’s commitment in improving on Sierra Leone coastline ecology restoration to prevent coastal erosion, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has engaged stakeholders in Conakry Dee, Port Loko District and in Shenge, Moyamba District on woodlot planting as a pilot project that mirrors the Ministry’s flagship project on National Tree Planting.
Speaking to the stakeholders, the Technical Assistant of the project, Andrew Katta said the replacement of 20% seedlings came about as a result of the field discovery on perishable seedlings by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Prof. Foday M. Jaward, during his maiden monitoring exercise at UNDP project sites disclosed that a total of 30 thousand seedlings constituting 80% were initially supplied for the project with 15 thousand each that was evenly distributed in both Conakry Dee and Shenge respectively.
He confirmed that the Ministry has secured funding from UNDP to supply six thousand seedlings constituting 20% replacement of perishable seedlings during the initial woodlot planting. He entreated them to have shed booths for proper maintenance of the seedlings before officially planting them. In short, he maintained that 80% of the initial seedlings survived.
The Assistant Director of Forest Research and Extension, who doubles as the Project manager of the woodlot planting project, John Brima noted that the replacement of seedlings would enable coastline communities to have trees as a reliable source of fuel wood.
He noted that the additional supply of seedlings would be planted on the initial sites where the seedlings were perishable. He continued that extension of woodlot would be realized from the 20% supply of seedlings. He emphasized for the creation of fire belts to deter outbreak of fire disaster. He noted that the woodlot project would be replicated in other coastline communities that are prone to erosion.
Meanwhile, the planting of seedlings is being done by Mayaya section woodlots management committee in Conakry-Dee, and Kargboro Woodlot Organization in Shenge consisting of community base youths.
Consequently, upon extensive deliberations, the youths stakeholders disclosed that few seedlings became perished as a result of late supply of seedlings that necessitated late planting of seedlings, improper handling of the seedlings during transportation and lack of efficient tools.
They assured that they would keep safe the additional supply of replacement seedlings upon early supply. They continued that the roll out of this project would attracts tourism in their communities, minimize the cutting of mangroves and alternate to the use of fuel wood for fish processing. They acknowledged the benefit of the project, noting that it would create jobs and protect their coastline ecology from erosion and flooding.
Conclusively, they applauded the Ministry and UNDP for establishing the woodlot project in their coastline communities and at the same time expressed commitments to properly handle the project efficiently. In short, they appealed for additional supply of seedlings for extension of the woodlot in other areas that are prone to erosion.
