By Philip Koroma in Kenema
The Gola Rainforest Conservation Programme (GRCP), in a significant development, has announced the disbursement of royalties to landowners in seven Gola Forest communities across Sierra Leone. This initiative marks a crucial step in preserving the Gola Rainforest, a biodiversity hotspot and one of the last remaining tropical rainforests on the planet.
Fomba Kanneh, the Head of Gola Rainforest Conservation Programme, underlined the organization’s steadfast commitment to supporting local communities in various critical areas, including livelihood support, agriculture, environmental education, infrastructure development, and healthcare. He encouraged landowners to utilize this support optimally assuring them that continued forest conservation efforts would result in increased community benefits.
The Gola Forest Conservation Programme operates in several key regions, including Makpele and Barri chiefdoms in the Pujehun district of the Southern region, Malema chiefdom in the Kailahun district, as well as Koya, Tunkia, Gaura, and Nomo chiefdoms in the Kenema district of the Eastern region. These areas constitute the national park and are vital to the broader conservation efforts.
Fomba Kanneh emphasized the program’s ongoing collaboration with local communities residing on the forest’s periphery stressing the importance of the partnership for the park’s future sustainability, focusing not only on biodiversity conservation but also on sustainable forest management and improving the livelihoods of local residents.
Highlighting the ecological significance of the Gola Rainforest, he pointed out that it comprises diverse natural ecosystems formed through various ecological and geological processes, creating numerous habitat types. Importantly, the Gola Rainforest plays a pivotal role in mitigating climate change by storing substantial amounts of biomass carbon and contributing to the global climate balance.
Furthermore, the Chiefdom Speaker of Tunkia Chiefdom, who also serves as the caretaker Paramount Chief of the chiefdom, Mohamed Mansaray, expressed his gratitude to the Gola Rainforest Conservation Programme and its donors for their unwavering support. He assured them that the funds would be judiciously utilized to benefit the community.
The GRCP’s ongoing efforts underscore the critical importance of preserving our planet’s remaining rainforests and protecting the biodiversity they harbor, while also contributing to global climate stability. As these royalties reach the landowners in Sierra Leone, it is a testament to the shared commitment towards safeguarding this invaluable natural treasure for generations to come.
