By Saidu Jalloh, Daily Scope Reporter
Orange Sierra Leone and Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary marked World Environment Day 2026 on Friday, June 5, by planting 5,000 trees across six acres of degraded forest inside the Western Area Peninsula National Park.
The reforestation drive drew government officials, environmental advocates, and over 180 Orange Sierra Leone staff, including senior management and directors, in a push to reverse forest loss, fight climate change, and protect Freetown’s key water sources.
Speaking at the event, Orange Sierra Leone Sales Director Alpha Bundu said the company’s mandate extends beyond telecom services.
“As a company, we believe our responsibility goes beyond connecting people through telecommunications. We also have a duty to contribute to environmental protection and sustainability,” he stated.
Bundu noted this is not Orange’s first intervention at Tacugama. The company previously planted more than 1,000 trees in the area and has run beach clean-ups under its “Engage for Change” campaign. He expressed concern over rising construction and human encroachment around protected zones, warning it threatens biodiversity and Freetown’s water catchments. He urged stronger public-private partnerships to safeguard natural resources.
Tacugama Founder and Director Bala Amarasekaran cautioned that the planting site was once dense forest but lost much of its cover in the last three years. He said the damage endangers water security, biodiversity, and increases landslide risk — a reference to Freetown’s 2017 mudslide disaster.
“We are standing within the National Park. In fact, we should not even be planting here because there was already a forest in this area. Unfortunately, most of the destruction you see has happened within the last three years,” Amarasekaran said.
He attributed deforestation to weak enforcement despite strong wildlife and forestry laws, and called for political will to prioritize environmental protection.
“The need to protect the environment goes beyond today’s activity. It is something we must do every day. We all have a responsibility to keep our environment safe,” he emphasized.
“For 32 years, Tacugama has worked to protect this environment. Today we are planting 5,000 trees, but this is only the beginning,” he added.
Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Mima Yema Mimi Sobba-Stephens commended the partners and said government is advancing plans for a specialized Environmental Court to expedite cases on environmental violations.
“What has been done today is highly symbolic. Planting trees is like giving life to future generations,” she said.
Orange Sierra Leone Chief Climate Officer Danetta Younge said over 180 employees volunteered, underscoring the firm’s commitment to climate action and a greener future.
The event ended with participants planting across degraded sections of the park, with organizers stressing that long-term maintenance and enforcement are as critical as the planting itself.
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