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Sierra Leone has experienced a staggering loss of 2.04 million hectares of tree cover, equivalent to a 36% decrease from 2001 to 2023, according to data from Global Forest Watch.
This alarming statistic was highlighted by Bockarie Marrah, Senior Project Coordinator of the Africa Conservation Initiative, during a capacity-building conference for youth titled “Amplifying Youth Voices in the Customary Land Rights and Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in Sierra Leone.”
Speaking at the event in Freetown, Marrah reported that in 2023 alone, the country lost 95.3 thousand hectares of natural forest, which corresponds to 54.6 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. He noted that a 2020 survey indicated Sierra Leone had 5.47 million hectares of natural forest, covering over 75% of its land area, but has seen significant deforestation in recent years.
Marrah identified a concerning annual deforestation rate of 3%, attributing this decline to increasing human pressures such as mining, agriculture, and logging. He emphasized that local communities living near protected areas often perceive conservation efforts as barriers to their survival. To address these issues, he called for legislative reforms to balance biodiversity protection with sustainable livelihoods.
The conference also featured remarks from John Paul Bai, Director of the Sierra Leone Land Alliance, who underscored the importance of land as a critical component for achieving national initiatives like the Feed Salone Initiative and the government’s Big Five Game Changer initiative. He argued for the inclusion of youth in decision-making processes regarding land use and access, citing geographical, political, and demographic constraints that limit land security for younger generations.
Bai expressed optimism about the potential for youth to lead in sustainable resource governance, stating, “Despite the challenges, the youth remain at the forefront of creativity and technological advancement.”
He announced plans to create a Youth Declaration on Land, aimed at empowering young leaders and promoting sustainable socio-economic development.
