By Kadiatu Sankoh
The Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL) hosted a one-day workshop on May 27, 2025, at the CCSL Kingharman Road Conference Room in Freetown to enhance the understanding of the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ among members of the National REDD+ Technical Committee and key community stakeholders.
The event was aimed to strengthen Sierra Leone’s readiness for implementing REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), a global initiative under the UNFCCC that provides financial incentives for countries that successfully reduce carbon emissions by protecting forests.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Edward Sesay, Head of Programmes at CSSL, emphasized the increasing threat of deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. “Deforestation is on the rise, and emissions are increasing, affecting our environment. If we don’t take it seriously as individuals and institutions, we will have ourselves to blame,” he cautioned.
Mr. Sesay also noted that Sierra Leone is still in the REDD+ readiness phase, and stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement to move the country toward effective implementation.
Sahr Kellie, Deputy Director of Forestry at the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), highlighted government initiatives, including the ongoing 5 Million Tree Planting Campaign, which began in 2020 and has already planted 2.2 million seedlings. He called for collaborative action to restore forest cover, preserve livelihoods, and tap into global climate finance mechanisms like carbon credits.
“Forests are essential for our survival. To benefit from REDD+, we must protect and expand them,” he added.
Presentations and Expert Contributions
Several consultants and experts delivered presentations detailing progress, strategies, and the roles of different stakeholders in the REDD+ process:
Dr. Peter D. Musa – REDD+ Technical Consultant
Dr. Musa elaborated on:
- Development of national technical guidelines
- Creation of training manuals
- Institutional and stakeholder capacity assessments
- Addressing emissions from agriculture and other land uses
- The importance of data and evidence-based policy updates
He stressed the need for aligning Sierra Leone’s forest policies with international climate frameworks like the Warsaw Framework and the Paris Agreement.
Hamid David Mansaray – Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) Consultant
Mr. Mansaray reported that the ESMF draft is 95% complete and will soon be presented to communities and indigenous networks for input. He highlighted the role of CSOs in ensuring environmental accountability and transparency during REDD+ implementation.
Mr. Osman – REDD+ Roadmap Consultant
Tasked with developing the National REDD+ Roadmap, Mr. Osman shared:
- A situational and literature review is underway
- Stakeholder mapping and consultation are planned
- Identification of institutional gaps is critical for future implementation
He emphasized the importance of gender inclusion, private sector participation, and community consultations in creating a robust implementation framework.
Dr. Francis Sowa – Communications Consultant
Dr. Sowa underlined the central role of communication in achieving REDD+ goals. He outlined his assignment to:
- Develop a REDD+ Communication Strategy and Plan
- Support stakeholder engagement
- Ensure effective messaging and dissemination
He warned that despite good plans, poor implementation and lack of timely feedback could hinder success.
- Forests are critical nature-based solutions for climate mitigation.
- Strengthening technical capacity, community inclusion, and stakeholder collaboration is central to REDD+ success.
- Data sharing, institutional alignment, and communication are crucial challenges that need addressing.
- Consultants called for policy updates, logistical support, and coordination to ensure effective REDD+ implementation.
The workshop concluded with participants reaffirming their commitment to working collectively to strengthen Sierra Leone’s position in global climate action and forest conservation.