SIERRA LEONE DEBATES A STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000441

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, OES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAID PREL SL

SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE DEBATES A STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL
ACTION PLAN, USG HELPS

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Summary
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1. The newly formed National Commission on Environment
and Forestry (NaCEF) is reaching out to other
stakeholders in the development of its Strategic Action
Plan. The Regional Environmental Hub Officer made a
presentation at a one-day conference about the lessons
Sierra Leone could learn from the Congo Basin Forest
Partnership model, which increased donor attention and
funding to the area. A World Bank presentation focused
on accessing funds through the Bank's Global Environment
Fund (GEF) for biodiversity conservation. The USG has
shown unique interest in Sierra Leone's need for
environmental protection and demonstrates that we can be
good environmental stewards. NaCEF will need much
outside assistance if they are to help combat Sierra
Leone's environmental problems, especially the rapid
deforestation in the Western Area's watershed. End
Summary.

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New Commissioner Reaches Out
To Map The Future
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2. In late May 2006, NaCEF Executive Commissioner Chris
Squire invited EconOff and Regional Environmental Hub
Officer (REO) to comment on a draft Strategic Action Plan
for the country's diminishing forest and wildlife
resources. NaCEF is a new institution created by
President Kabbah in 2005 to coordinate the work of
overlapping ministries, such as Agriculture (which
includes the Forestry Division and Wildlife Conservation
Branch),Lands (which includes the Environment Division),
the Judiciary, and law enforcement bodies in Sierra
Leone.


3. In a day-long conference, Squire gathered local and
international NGOs, researchers, the World Bank and REO
to review with ministry officials a draft Strategic
Action Plan defining priority actions in three subject
areas: coordination within Sierra Leone's institutions;
protected areas and biodiversity management; and overall
land use and environmental management. Activities were
proposed for the short, medium and long term and included
plans for internal reform, building partnerships and
increasing donors participation in conserving Sierra
Leone's fragmented habitats and wildlife.

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REO CALLS FOR PARTNERING, COOPERATION
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4. REO urged GOSL officials to consider partnering with
neighboring states to increase cooperation and develop a
regional strategy for conserving forest resources.
Examples were given from Central Africa to demonstrate
how concerted action can attract other donors and the
multiple benefits of cross-border initiatives. The most
pertinent example was that of the Congo Basin Forest
Partnership, a regional body that has successfully
attracted the donor community's attention and commitment.
NaCEF officials discussed their difficulties in achieving
communication and cooperation among ministries. Many
forestry officials felt that it would be difficult to
implement strategies without a clear legal mandate for
the Commission, which mandate has unfortunately not yet
been established by parliament or the executive branch.

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Accessing World Bank Environment Funding
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5. A World Bank presentation focused on what Sierra Leone
needs to do next to access the World Bank's Global
Environment Fund (GEF) for its biodiversity conservation
project proposal. The project envisions the protection
of eight biodiversity areas throughout the country. One
of the GEF requirements is for the proposal to identify a
sustainable long-term funding mechanism: many favor a
trust fund. The Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds (RSPB) and Bird Life International are working to
establish a trust fund for one of the biodiversity
hotspots - the Gola Forest - and hope to establish the
mechanism nationwide.


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6. World Bank representative Edward Dwumfor emphasized a
systematic approach to evaluating funding mechanisms,
however, cautioning that Sierra Leone has no history with
public/private partnerships but a long history of
political instability, no domestic framework to establish
such a fund, and many open questions as to whether there
is sufficient management capacity and links to the
banking sector in order to make such a trust fund fly.
In the end, participants drafted a scope of work for a
consultant who would evaluate the various options for a
long-term funding mechanism.

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USG Interest in Protecting Sierra Leone's Environment
Protects Our Own Environmental Reputation
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7. Protecting Sierra Leone's environment has received
attention not only by post and the REO but also by two
USG technical agencies over the past year. In June of
2005, a delegation of the USDA/Forest Service provided
recommendations for better management of the Western Area
Forest Preserve, a critical watershed area and
biodiversity reserve near the capital. In addition, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided a grant for a
research team to carry out elephant census work in
Outamba-Kilimi National Park, on Sierra Leone's northern
border with Guinea. Also, USAID provides funds to
conservation projects, including with RSPB and Bird Life
International on the Gola Forest Conservation Concession
Program, which works with local communities to stop
illegal hunting activities and manage resources
sustainably.


8. This interest makes the USG the only country working
with Sierra Leone bilaterally on environmental issues,
providing Post with a unique opportunity to help shape
NaCEF's agenda and build U.S. environmental credibility.
(Note: The New Embassy Compound is being constructed
inside the boundaries of the increasingly deforested
Western Area Forest Preserve. The Ministry of Lands,
Country Planning, and Environment offered the NEC
building site to Post, but they never ran it by the
Foresty Division, which sits in the Ministry of
Agriculture. This is one of the inter-ministerial
hurdles to communication that NaCEF is meant to
eliminate. End Note.)


9. One of the hot topics of discussion with
environmentalists in Sierra Leone is the construction of
the New Embassy Site and the rash of uncontrolled
building in the northern part of the WAFP that has
resulted. We are working closely with a local NGO
consortium, the Environmental Forum for Action, to
participate in a national tree planting day to
commemorate World Environment Day on June 5.

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Comment
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10. Sierra Leone has a dynamic environmental leader in
the person of Chris Squire, but he has a huge task ahead
of him and needs all the help he can get. The strategic
plan is a good first step and should be followed by the
explicit backing of the legislative and executive branch.
Post has made an effort to engage with Squire and has
sought opportunities to portray the U.S. Government as a
responsible environmental steward. At the moment, the
U.S. Forest Service is eager to provide their assistance,
but no funding has materialized yet. While there are no
ready solutions, Post and REO are convinced that the
severity and immediacy of current deforestation trends
merit further USG support. Deforestation has reduced key
watershed areas, leading to flooding, siltation,
landslides and gully erosion. Left unchecked,
deforestation and watershed degradation will be costly to
Sierra Leone's fragile economy. END COMMENT.
HULL