Post a comment 
The National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) has commenced the demolition of completed and partially constructed buildings located beyond the approved cut-off line in the Bathurst and Regent communities of the Western Area Peninsula National Park, as part of efforts to protect the country’s protected forest reserve.
The exercise, which is being led by the Executive Director of the NPAA, is being carried out with the support of the Sierra Leone Police and more than 100 game guards deployed to provide security and enforce the operation.
According to the Authority, the affected structures were situated within protected areas of the national park, where construction is prohibited under Sierra Leone’s environmental conservation framework. The operation is aimed at preventing further encroachment and preserving one of the country’s most ecologically significant protected landscapes.
The Western Area Peninsula National Park is home to important forest ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and water catchment areas that supply a significant portion of the water consumed in Freetown. Environmental authorities have repeatedly warned that unregulated construction and land encroachment threaten biodiversity, increase the risk of deforestation, and place additional pressure on the city’s natural resources.
The presence of police officers and game guards during the demolition exercise is intended to maintain public order while ensuring that the enforcement operation proceeds safely and in accordance with the Authority’s mandate.
The demolition forms part of the NPAA’s broader efforts to safeguard protected areas from illegal occupation and development. Authorities have consistently maintained that preserving the integrity of national parks is essential to environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and the protection of Sierra Leone’s natural heritage.
The operation is expected to continue as the Authority enforces regulations governing protected lands and works to prevent further unauthorised development within the Western Area Peninsula National Park.
