Sierra Leone Moves Closer to International Climate Funding With Forest Emissions Benchmark
Kanja Sesay Sierra Leone has taken a significant step towards accessing international climate finance following the validation of the methodology for its first Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL), a national benchmark designed to measure greenhouse gas emissions and removals associated with forests.
The initiative, developed under the Support to Sustainable Forestry in Sierra Leone Project, aims to strengthen the country’s ability to monitor forest-related emissions, improve environmental reporting and support efforts to combat deforestation and forest degradation.
The process draws on information from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) and the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS), which provide data on Sierra Leone’s forest resources and changes in forest cover.
Once completed and submitted for international technical assessment, the benchmark is expected to support Sierra Leone’s participation in climate financing mechanisms that reward measurable reductions in forest-related emissions.
The Forest Reference Emission Level serves as a baseline against which countries can measure changes in greenhouse gas emissions associated with forests.
For Sierra Leone, establishing the benchmark represents an important step towards improving the accuracy and transparency of forest monitoring and climate reporting.
The initiative is intended to provide a nationally informed assessment of emissions linked to deforestation, forest degradation and other changes in forest carbon stocks.
It will also help authorities track progress in forest conservation, restoration and sustainable forest management.
By developing its first FREL, Sierra Leone is working towards establishing the technical foundation needed to assess forest-related emissions and demonstrate progress under international climate frameworks.
Speaking during the methodology validation workshop, Director of Forestry Mrs Kate M. B. Karemo-Garnett explained that the exercise was designed to review the technical approaches, assumptions and data sources that will inform Sierra Leone’s forest emissions benchmark.
She highlighted the importance of using reliable national data to ensure that forest-related emissions are measured and reported accurately.
According to Karemo-Garnett, the process involves assessing emission factors associated with forest biomass and dead organic matter.
It also incorporates forest activity data obtained through national monitoring systems and satellite imagery.
The assessment examines greenhouse gas emissions and removals resulting from deforestation, forest degradation, reforestation and increases in forest carbon stocks.
Karemo-Garnett emphasised that nationally generated information would provide a more transparent and credible basis for monitoring changes in Sierra Leone’s forests.
The approach is expected to strengthen the country’s capacity to report on forest-related emissions while supporting evidence-based environmental decision-making.
During the workshop, International FREL Consultant Esther Mertens outlined the technical requirements for submitting Sierra Leone’s forest emissions benchmark to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Her presentation focused on the information and procedures needed to prepare the country’s FREL report for international technical assessment.
Mertens also discussed opportunities associated with the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) framework.
REDD+ is an international climate mechanism that encourages developing countries to reduce forest-related emissions while supporting conservation, sustainable forest management and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
Through results-based financing arrangements, eligible countries may receive financial support for verified achievements in reducing emissions or increasing forest carbon stocks.
However, developing and submitting a FREL does not automatically guarantee access to climate funding.
Countries must also satisfy applicable monitoring, reporting, verification and financing requirements.
The validation workshop is expected to produce agreed methodologies, confirmed data sources and technical information needed to prepare Sierra Leone’s first FREL report.
Participants are also expected to develop a roadmap outlining the remaining steps towards submitting the benchmark to the UNFCCC.
The submission will be followed by an international technical assessment process.
Once assessed, the benchmark can serve as a reference for measuring future changes in forest-related emissions and removals.
The process is intended to strengthen transparency, consistency and credibility in Sierra Leone’s forest emissions reporting.
The initiative highlights Sierra Leone’s efforts to strengthen forest management while positioning the country to benefit from international climate cooperation.
Forests play an important role in absorbing carbon dioxide, protecting biodiversity and supporting environmental sustainability.
However, deforestation and forest degradation can reduce their capacity to store carbon and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
By improving forest monitoring and establishing a credible emissions benchmark, Sierra Leone aims to strengthen its ability to assess these environmental changes and develop appropriate responses.
The FREL initiative is expected to support conservation, reforestation and sustainable forest management while improving the country’s readiness for international climate finance.
Although additional technical work and international assessment remain necessary, the methodology validation represents progress towards establishing Sierra Leone’s first nationally developed forest emissions benchmark.
The next major milestone will be completing the FREL report and submitting it to the UNFCCC for technical assessment.