Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Engages Stakeholders on Review of the 1988 Forestry Act and 1972 Wildlife Conservation Act.
The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change has on the 20th November, 2025, held a One Day Regional Consultative Meeting with Stakeholders including Paramount Chiefs, ONS, RSLAF, SLP, Members of Parliament, Local Councils, Civil Society Oraganizations amongst others to review the Forestry and Wildlife Legislations with techinical support from #FAO and funding from #EU. The meeting was held at the Garden Estate in Makeni, Bombali District.
The Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Foday Sesay gave the purpose of the meeting, noting that the existing legislation has become absolute. He acknowleded that the review process is to replace the existing laws with updated ones which could aligned with national priorities, international environmental commitments, and emmerging best practice for sustainable forest management and wildlife conservation. He said that the engagement with stakeholders is to seek their expert recommendations and perspectives to identify existing gaps, strengthen regulatory provisions and proposed actionable reforms which could lead to having a standard legislations to preserve the forest resources.
The Chairman of the Consultative meeting who doubles as the Provincial Secretary, North-East, Prince Alex Soriba acknowledged the Paramount Chiefs as an agent for development who are determined to manage the forest land cover through enforcement of the customary laws. He took cognizance of the historic transformation of the colonial laws which brought about the 1988 Forestry Act that was replaced by the Forestry Amendment Act of 2022. He noted that this simplified the urgent need to review these existing laws for sustainable forest management. He affirmed that the contributions of traditional Authorities are crucial to having a consolidated document to manage the forest resources in Sierra Leone .
The National Project Coordinator,
National Forest Inventory, Patrick Abu-Mattia on behalf of the FAO Country Representative, acknowledged #FAO‘s vital steps towards addressing key emmerging issues in strengthen the governance framework for the protection and sustainable management of Sierra Leone’s natural resources for the current and subsequent generation. He recognized that reviewing these legislations would promote sustainable forest management practices that balanced economic development with ecological preservation as Sierra Leone’s forests are vital for biodiversity, climate regulation, livelihoods of many communities, ensure strengthening wildlife protection. He continued by emphasizing that the new laws would incorperate measures to address emerging challenges such as climate change, deforestations, habitat loss, and responding to new opportunities and emerging situations amongst others to promote sustainable forest management and biodiversit conservation within Sierra Leone.
The National Consultant, Lawyer R.S.V. Wright reiterated that the laws delegate more powers to government with little or no benefit to communities. He noted that the laws have become absolute which require consultations with government institutions, donor partners and most significantly, with community stakeholders. He underscored the relevance of the review process, noting that the review of these legislations is to solicit the views, opinions and grievances from the Paramount Chiefs and how community people could benefit from the forest resources.
Delivering the keynote Statement, the Deputy Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Mima Yema Sobba-Stephens acknowledged the roles of Paramount Chiefs as crucial in supporting the governance framework on the environment and climate change. She underscored the relevance of protecting the forest, noting that the forests provide the natural ecosystem services for human survival. She noted that traditional Authorities are instrumental in reviewing these legislations as a result of their knowledge to identify the current status of the forests in their communities, and could also give solid contributions to improve livelihood sustainability through forests management, and boost tourism through wildlife protection.
Hon. Sobba-Stephens reiterated that replacing the existing laws is to meet up with international standards and subsequently resolved emmerging issues that bothered around sustainable forest management and wildlife conservation. She assured stakeholders that the review process would remained transparent so that these legislations could reflect stakeholder’s views, and recommendations.
Meanwhile, the consultative meeting was climaxed by group work sessions and presentations with assurance to replacing the existing Forestry Act and Wildlife Conservation Act.