By: Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter
CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom — His Excellency Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh, Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to the UK, convened a significant meeting with senior executives from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) at the prestigious David Attenborough Building, University of Cambridge.
This meeting highlighted the longstanding connection between Sir David Attenborough and Sierra Leone, which began in 1954 when he filmed the BBC’s Zoo Quest, showcasing the Gola Rainforest and its extraordinary biodiversity. This early project not only marked the start of Attenborough’s illustrious career but also brought critical global attention to Sierra Leone’s natural heritage.
The discussions centered on enhancing collaboration to protect the Gola Rainforest and promote sustainable development in surrounding communities. Spanning over 70,000 hectares, the Gola Rainforest is a vital biodiversity hotspot in West Africa, home to 327 bird species.
One of the key initiatives discussed was the Gola REDD+ Project (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), which stands as West Africa’s first large-scale forest carbon initiative. This partnership has successfully safeguarded habitats for endangered species, including pygmy hippos and chimpanzees, while benefiting over 24,000 individuals in 122 forest-edge communities. Additionally, the project generates carbon credits that mitigate approximately 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions yearly and fosters sustainable livelihoods through agroforestry, education, and conservation enterprises.
Present at the meeting were prominent RSPB officials, including Dr. Jo Gilbert (Director, International), Alade Adeleke (Programme Manager, Sierra Leone), Richard Dixon (Head of Greater Gola Landscape), Lilian Goredema (International Programme Officer), and Bruce Liggit (Senior Policy Officer). They shared updates on the Gola Programme’s achievements and future plans, including cross-border cooperation with Liberia under the Mano River Union framework, encompassing a total of 350,000 hectares.
Dr. Manyeh, accompanied by Second Secretary Mrs. Mbalia Sankoh and Information Attaché Abdulai Braima, praised the RSPB and its collaborators, including the Government of Sierra Leone and the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), for their enduring commitment to conservation and sustainable development. He reiterated Sierra Leone’s willingness to support initiatives that protect its natural resources while creating economic opportunities for rural communities.
The Gola Rainforest Conservation (GRC), a non-profit organization managing the project, exemplifies effective partnerships among government entities, local communities, and the private sector, serving as a model for sustainable landscape management and post-conflict peacebuilding in the region.
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