By Philip Koroma in Kenema
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Global Conservation team, led by Executive Director Katie Jo Luxton, embarked on a significant visit to the Gola Rainforest National Park in the Lalehun Community of Gaura Chiefdom, Kenema district. This visit marks a critical step in evaluating the park’s protection level and identifying potential areas requiring intervention for funding proposals to various partners.
Jenna Barker, Acting Country Director of RSPB in Sierra Leone, shed light on the purpose of the visit, emphasizing RSPB’s status as the largest nature conservation charity with a proven track record of successful conservation efforts, burgeoning partnerships with diverse organizations, and a mission to inspire global efforts in protecting nature.
Ms. Barker urged the community of Lalehun to continue safeguarding the forest, highlighting RSPB’s global commitment to preserving wildlife habitats wherever they are threatened.
Executive Director, Katie Jo Luxton, elaborated on RSPB’s charitable mission, which centres on promoting the conservation and protection of birds and their environments through public awareness campaigns and the operation of nature reserves. She assured the Lalehun Community of ongoing support provided they remain vigilant against illegal activities that could harm the Gola Rainforest National Park.
Highlighting a two-decade collaboration with the Gola Rainforest Conservation Programme, Ms. Luxton praised the community’s dedication to forest protection. She underscored the Gola Rainforest’s significance as one of Sierra Leone’s last remaining bastions of Upper Guinean tropical rainforest, spanning nearly 700 square kilometres and boasting more than 330 bird species, 14 of which are at risk of global extinction.
Ms. Luxton stressed the importance of flagship species such as the elusive pygmy hippo (choeropsis liberiensis), emphasizing that their presence underscores the international recognition of the area as a global biodiversity hotspot deserving utmost attention and protection.
Fomba Maada Kanneh, Head of Gola, expressed gratitude to the RSPB team for their visit, acknowledging their pivotal role in protecting the Gola Rainforest National Park and improving the lives of forest-edge communities. He urged the Lalehun community to continue safeguarding the forest, emphasizing the importance of sustainable resource management and community involvement in forest protection.
Kanneh unveiled sustainable farming practices developed by the Gola Rainforest Program, aimed at enhancing livelihoods and promoting conservation. He also highlighted the establishment of the Gola Rainforest Company Ltd in 2014, a joint effort with the Government of Sierra Leone and the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone to secure the park’s future.
Furthermore, he emphasized the vital role of collaboration between local communities, conservation, and sustainable resource management, underscoring the multifaceted approach taken to ensure the forest’s long-term protection.
Representing the land-owning families in Lalehun, Mustapha Mansaray praised the Gola Rainforest Conservation Programme for their alternative livelihood support and scholarship scheme. He appealed for an extension of the scholarship program to university levels, addressing pressing community needs, such as clean drinking water, road infrastructure, and healthcare facilities, to fortify the forest’s enduring protection.
In a remarkable display of commitment, Mustapha Mansaray announced the formation of a ten-member committee to support forest rangers in patrolling the national forest, further solidifying the community’s dedication to safeguarding this vital natural treasure.
The RSPB’s visit to the Gola Rainforest National Park underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in preserving biodiversity and uplifting the lives of local communities, exemplifying the organization’s global mission to protect and nurture nature.
