By Cornelius Eku Randall
In a bid to continuously protect Mangroves in wetlands around protected areas, the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) with support from Petits Project, Rampao, Fonds Francais Pour L’enviroment Mondial, over the weekend launched the Mangroves Restoration project in degraded areas in the Ribbi Chiefdom coastal area in the Ribbimen community, Moyamba District.
In his welcome address, the Headman of Ribimen community, Moyamba District, Alusine Koroma, said that he is very happy to receive a high-power delegation from the NPAA.
He stated that them in the community are willing and ready to support the NPAA in restoring their degraded areas in the wetlands, and appealed to the authority to give them alternative livelihood.
The Wetlands Manager Mrs. Yatta Hellen Kamara, explained to the Ribbimen community how important it is to protect the mangroves.
She emphasized that the community people should cease on all wetlands banking and encouraged them to take good care of the mangrove’s ecosystem for climate change resilience and disaster risk reduction.
She furthered that they are at Ribbi community today to have an agreement signed by the community and NPAA to do the restoration and that they are willing to protect for the benefits of all, and the NPAA will provide the technical team to teach community people on how to plant, also NPAA and other environmental partners will support with alternative livelihood alongside Law enforcement to the community in order to avoid destruction of the Mangroves.
In his keynote address, the Deputy Executive Director of NPAA, Dwight Z. K. Sheriff extends greetings on behalf of the Executive Director. He expressed thanks and appreciation to the stakeholders of Ribbimen community for embracing such a project in their community, he encourages them to give their total support as they are among those community stands to benefit more if they continue to protect the mangroves.
He gave a brief background about the formation of the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA).
In their statements the Head of Sierra Leone Police Marine Department Supt Jacob M. Kargbo and Commander A.S.O Noah, Base technical officer Sierra Leone Navy also explained their role as security personnel within the wetland Ecosystem, and they encouraged them not to go against the rules as prescribed by law and the government security agencies are part of the team to sensitize communities about their role, so they will not fall victim of the laws.
Statements were made by CODOSAPA, SLAFU, and other Environment partners, while questions and answers climaxed the occasion.
