The data collection phase of the National Forest Inventory Project, currently being implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) with funding from the European Union (EU) and technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has intensified in the Southern Region. Teams are visiting key cluster areas, engaging with community leaders, and gathering essential data for the inventory.
The project aims to establish a comprehensive National Forest Monitoring and Sustainable Management System, providing regularly updated data on Sierra Leone’s forest resources.
During a visit by the Quality Assurance and Control (QA/QC) team to Manjehun Town in Kori Chiefdom, Moyamba District, Sahr Kelli, Deputy Director of the Forestry Division at MoECC and team leader for the QA/QC team, explained the project’s dual-layer verification process. He said the QA/QC team’s role is to review and verify the data collected by field surveyors to ensure its accuracy, which is crucial for formulating effective forest management policies.
Kelli highlighted that since the last inventory in 1975, the country’s forests have undergone significant changes due to infrastructural development, mining, farming, and other human activities. He emphasized that the data gathered from this inventory will provide critical insights into the current state of the forest cover, helping to shape future forest management policies.
Dr. Anthony Lamin-Samu, the National Expert for the Forest Inventory Project, emphasized the importance of data accuracy in ensuring the credibility of the inventory report. He noted that precise data would enable the government and its partners to make informed decisions regarding reforestation, biodiversity conservation, and other forest management interventions.
This national effort is poised to create a solid foundation for sustainable forest management in Sierra Leone, benefiting both the environment and the country’s socio-economic development.
