By: Aminata Sesay
The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change has launched a nationwide National Forest Inventory (NFI) in the North-West Region—marking the first comprehensive forest assessment in fifty years. The initiative is funded by the European Union (EU) and technically supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
The NFI aims to provide up-to-date data on Sierra Leone’s forest resources, which will be vital for environmental policy-making, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation. The launch was accompanied by a one-day stakeholder engagement and awareness session held at the Port Loko District Council Hall, attracting participants from local government, traditional leadership, and civil society.
Officials stated that the NFI will cover Karene, Kambia, and Port Loko districts. Data collectors, who have already begun pilot training, will soon be deployed to various communities. The Ministry emphasized that all data collectors will carry identification tags, and security agencies—including the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Sierra Leone Police (SLP), and the Office of National Security (ONS) have been duly informed of the exercise.
Permanent Secretary Elizabeth Hawa Ellie highlighted that the NFI is a crucial tool for sustainable forest resource management and will enable Sierra Leone to access international climate finance. She noted that the last such inventory was conducted in 1975, and that this new data will inform future policies and support economic development through climate-related initiatives.
Deputy Minister Hon. Mimi Sobba-Stephens, delivering the keynote address, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the clean energy transition. She emphasized the role of forests in providing food, medicine, water protection, and climate stability. She also announced ongoing efforts to replace traditional cooking methods with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) systems in schools, prisons, and households, in line with President Bio’s energy efficiency agenda.
EU Program Manager John Abu Kpawoh reiterated that the lack of reliable forest data for decades has hindered effective environmental planning. He emphasized that the NFI would lay the foundation for a national forest monitoring system, essential for compliance with international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Local leaders expressed their support for the initiative. Paramount Chief Bai Simera Naise Kapen III endorsed the NFI and encouraged community participation. Port Loko District Council Chairman Sheku T. Saccoh stressed the importance of continued collaboration between the ministry and traditional leaders, noting that forest preservation is linked to public health, agriculture, and water security.
FAO’s National REDD+ Technical Coordinator, Dr. Momoh Gbessay, stated that the inventory comes at a critical time. He emphasized that accurate forest data will help monitor biodiversity, assess carbon stocks, guide forest health management, and attract donor funding.
The NFI project aligns with Sierra Leone’s national development goals and international commitments. It is expected to inform future environmental strategies and reshape how communities interact with and protect forest resources.