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The National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) has intensified enforcement operations in the Western Area Peninsula National Park and the Sierra Leone River Estuary, reporting dozens of arrests and convictions in recent months.
The campaign, conducted under an initiative dubbed “Walk for the Forest,” targets illegal activities such as bush burning, logging, charcoal production, and land encroachment within protected areas. NPAA officials said the initiative also aims to raise public awareness on conservation while strengthening surveillance and patrol operations.
Law Enforcement and Compliance Manager, Dauda L. Bangura Esq., said that between February and April 2026, the authority arrested 52 individuals and secured convictions for 43 others on offences including encroachment on protected lands, deforestation, charcoal production, and unlawful entry into protected areas.
He credited collaboration with the Sierra Leone Police and the Judiciary for supporting enforcement efforts. Bangura noted that the NPAA manages 15 protected areas nationwide, but the current operation has focused on the Western Area Peninsula National Park and the Sierra Leone River Estuary due to their ecological sensitivity.
Executive Director Sheikh Ahmed Tunis expressed concern over ongoing forest destruction despite the deployment of personnel across operational zones. He said illegal activities continue in remote sections of the forest where surveillance remains limited, citing incidents of early morning fires and suspected staged timber removal.
Tunis announced tougher sanctions for commanders and deputies in zones where illegal activities persist. Under the new measures, a commander whose zone records repeated incidents of illegal bush burning or encroachment could face a one-month suspension without pay.
He further directed commanders assigned to Zones One through Five to demonstrate measurable improvements in monitoring and enforcement within one week, warning that continued violations would attract disciplinary action against officers in charge, including security heads and deputy commanders.
The “Walk for the Forest” exercise saw NPAA management and staff march from the authority’s headquarters at 55 Siaka Stevens Street and Lewis Road through Aberdeen and Lumley to Gigibonta Park. Bangura said the exercise was used to engage staff, reinforce discipline, and issue operational directives on environmental protection.
NPAA officials said similar awareness and enforcement campaigns are planned for other protected areas nationwide, emphasizing that protected forests are intended for conservation and must not be subjected to unlawful exploitation.
