Ending the Climate Effects: NaCCED and Partners Engage Stakeholders in Makeni

By: Amadu Wurie Timbo

The National Council for Civic Education and Development in Partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry and the Environmental Minisry have on Saturday September 18th 2021 conducted a day’s Engagement with Stakeholders in Makeni to help combate the negative effects of Climate Change in Sierra Leone.

The engagement which was held at the MAF conference Hall located at Agriculture Road in Makeni brought together Timber Loggers, Charcoal Burners, Community Heads and many other people whose roles and activities lead to indiscriminate cutting down of trees. 

Jinnah Bockarie the Deupty District Officer- Bombali was the Chairman of the event who in his opening statement jogged the minds of attendees about the relationship of Man and plants in gaseous exchange. “Without enough trees, the Carbon dioxide man and animals give off will remain in the air and serves as threat to our health as a result of its hotness.” He disclosed. 

In his statement, Lahai Kpaka the Information Officer at the Environmental Ministry disclosed that the primarily aim of his Ministry is to ensure the safeness of the environment and its people which one of its urgency is to certify that citizens live in a safe and enjoyable climate environment. 

To him, this can only be achieved with the involvement and support of community people in placing and replacing trees. 

Mr. Kpaka further reiterated that the Government of Sierra Leone have sealed a project of planting 5 million of both Ecological and Economical trees across the country in the period of four years, wherein it has been lunched in 2019 and will remain in full course onto 2023. 

“Last year alone in 2020, one million two hundred thousand trees were planted, the zest and passion Sierra Leoneans displayed on the first phase of the project has provided assurance to increase the number of trees to one million six hundred thousand trees set to be planted in 2021.” 

He spoke. Mr. Ibrahim Jalloh, NaCCED regional Coordinator-North disclosed to attendees that the unceasing falling down of trees as a result of Human activities is becoming an unbearable threat that every resident of the land need to fight against in order to be safe from Draught and the frightening Global Warming. 

He underscored that trees are central to Human activities and survival, and therefore implore all to join the course with full energy and passion in multiplying trees across the Nation. 

“Lets all as Sierra Leoneans know that there are other generations yet to come, so lets treat our environment with care mostly in the aspect of climate.” Mr. Jalloh adviced.

Responding to this Medium, Abu Bakarr Foday Sesay a Service Provider at Tree Planting who doubles as the Secretary General of the Widows Network affirmed that the project is positively impacting to communities by restoring back its climate value. 

He pointed out that late delivery of seeds and seedlings, minute and late financing has been recorded as huge challenges in implementing the first phase of the project, wherein other seed were unable to germinate. 

Hence, he beseeched for Government to respond promptly to address those challenges.