By Cornelius Eku Randall
FREETOWN, Nov. 9 (232News) – The National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) engaged Communities around the Western Area Peninsular National Park at the No. 2 community on Thursday 4th November, 2021. In his statement the Manager outreach and Communications; Thomas M. Bockarie, said that it’s necessary to engage the communities around the Western Area Peninsular National Park so that they can work as team in order for the authority to achieve it mandate; which is to protect the biodiversity of National Parks. He stated that without the Forest edge Communities it will be difficult for the authority to succeed. The main purpose of this engagement is to inform forest edge Communities that the authority will be placing sign posts around the Western Area Peninsular National Park to avoid encroachment into the park.
In his statement the GIS officer Rogers said that all of these areas that the sign post will be placed, coordinate will be taken and put into a computer system, so even if community people remove it, the system will know where exactly it was removed.
The Headman for No 2 river Joseph Jalloh said that the authority is working with them on the right direction. He promised that they will support the authority with it mandate and encouraged all others around to cooperate with them. He made an appeal to the government to support them as the survival of most people in the area is from the forest. He asked that alternative livelihood be provided for his people.
Statements from various community stakeholders were made on behalf of their Communities.
