By: Precious Miracle Kargbo
A town hall meeting was held at the Western Area Rural District Council Hall to discuss ongoing conservation efforts for the Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve in Waterloo on November 12, 2025.
Director Edwin Baimba stressed the importance of collaborative efforts in protecting the environment. “Our environment in the Western Area Rural District is at risk, and we must take immediate action to protect it,” Baimba said.
The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including Robert Alphaeus Browne, Deputy Chairman of the Western Area Rural District Council. Browne highlighted the significance of the chimpanzee as a national symbol and praised the unique biodiversity of the Peninsula. “This region is truly a heaven on Earth,” Browne remarked. “However, human activities pose a significant threat to our land. We must adhere to existing laws and advocate stricter enforcement.”
Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Mrs. Mini Yema Mimi Shabba Stephens, also addressed the meeting. She emphasized the importance of a bottom-up approach in conservation, urging community stakeholders to take responsibility. “Each community must take responsibility,” she said. “The consequences of environmental degradation will be felt by everyone.”
Bala Amarasekaran, Program Director of Tacaguma, stressed the urgent need for stronger conservation measures. “Awareness alone isn’t enough; we must take decisive action,” he declared.
The meeting concluded with a call to action, urging attendees to collaborate on conservation efforts and hold one another accountable. The stakeholders recognized the importance of collective action in protecting the environment and committed to working together to safeguard the Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve.
The Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve faces significant threats from human activities, making conservation efforts critical. A bottom-up approach, with active participation from community stakeholders, is essential for ensuring the sustainable future of the forest reserve and its inhabitants.
