By: Aminata Sesay
Parliament has ratified a long-term partnership agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and Rainforest Builders SL Limited, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to combat climate change and environmental degradation.
The agreement, which was laid before Parliament on January 27, 2026, and signed on September 24, 2025, focuses on large-scale forest restoration, carbon financing, and sustainable community development across several districts.
Presenting the agreement to lawmakers, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change described climate change as one of the most serious threats facing the nation, particularly rural communities and fragile ecosystems. “Forests are not just natural resources; they are critical infrastructure for climate action,” the minister said. “Protecting them is essential for our survival and for future generations.”
Under the agreement, Rainforest Builders will restore degraded forest areas through reforestation and assisted natural regeneration, with a target of planting at least one million trees annually across 1,000 hectares of land.
The project is expected to generate high-quality carbon credits for international markets, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen ecosystem resilience.
Lawmakers were informed that the initiative would create thousands of jobs, particularly for women and young people, while providing additional income for land-owning families and supporting climate-smart agriculture.
A key feature of the agreement is the commitment to allocate 30 percent of project profits to beneficiary communities a provision several MPs described as unprecedented in similar investment agreements.
Honourable Yusuf Mackery described the agreement as timely, noting that Sierra Leone remains highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters due to deforestation, land degradation, and poor environmental management. “This partnership strengthens our national response to climate change and supports long-term forest conservation,” he said.
Honourable PC praised the Minister’s leadership and highlighted the fragility of the country’s ecosystems, warning that continued neglect of protected areas could undermine international confidence and future carbon financing opportunities.
He called for stronger monitoring mechanisms and clearer community engagement frameworks. “We must properly define stakeholders and ensure that communities have the resources to participate meaningfully,” he said.
Several MPs emphasized the importance of parliamentary oversight to ensure that the company fulfills its investment, employment, and development commitments.
Honourable Aaron Aruna urged the parliamentary committees on environment, labour, and finance to closely monitor job creation, local content compliance, and revenue flows. “We must ensure that investments translate into decent jobs and real economic benefits for Sierra Leoneans,” he said.
Honourable Bashiru Silikie also called for closer collaboration between parliamentary committees and government agencies to guarantee transparency and accountability in the project’s implementation. During the debate, lawmakers raised concerns about illegal logging, charcoal burning, and encroachment in protected areas, including the Western Area Peninsula National Park.
MPs warned that failure to address these challenges could damage the country’s environmental credibility and weaken future investment prospects.
In response, the Minister assured Parliament that the government would closely monitor environmental impacts, community benefits, and financial inflows associated with the project.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to the Protect Sierra Leone Initiative, which aims to conserve and restore 30 percent of the country’s land and marine ecosystems by 2030.
“This agreement represents our determination to translate policy into action,” the minister said. Following extensive debate, Parliament voted in favour of ratifying the agreement, paving the way for full nationwide implementation.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, working with relevant parliamentary committees and local authorities, will oversee execution and ensure compliance with national laws and international standards.
Lawmakers agreed that the partnership presents an opportunity to strengthen environmental protection while promoting sustainable economic growth.
“Climate change affects us all,” one MP concluded. “This House has taken a decisive step to safeguard the future of our country.”