Save Life Initiative

Thanks to the EPA Kono team, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces ( ) and the Sierra Leone Police ( ), more illegal dredges were demolished and several arrests made this week along the Sonja Stream, between Soa and Gbane Chiefdoms in Kono District.

We remain determined to disrupt river dredging at scale and will continue working closely with law enforcement agencies to protect our rivers, communities, and natural resources from this destructive activity.

Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone

A tree planting exercise was conducted at the Karim Barrie Centre, Leone Afric Metals Limited Road, Makarie Village, Makarie Chiefdom, Bombali District, Sierra Leone The activity aimed to promote environmental conservation, improve the local landscape, and raise awareness of the importance of trees in protecting the environment. Community members and stakeholders participated in planting trees around the centre, demonstrating their commitment to creating a greener and healthier environment for present and future generations.

Bananas and plantains nurseries are specialized farms where young banana and plantain plants are propagated before being transplanted to fields. They use suckers or tissue culture plantlets to produce healthy, disease-free seedlings. Farmers carefully manage soil, water, and shade to ensure strong root development. Nurseries help improve crop yields by selecting high-quality varieties that resist pests and drought. They also support commercial farming by providing uniform planting materials. Regular monitoring is essential to prevent diseases like banana wilt. These nurseries are important for food security and income generation in tropical regions where bananas and plantains are staple foods globally important.

Appeal for Tree Planting Support in Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone

This year, we aim to restore the environment in mining-affected communities across the Tonkolili District in north-central Sierra Leone. Our initiative seeks to distribute 10,000 tree seedlings to local residents and plant an additional 25,000 trees throughout communities that have been significantly impacted by mining activities.

We respectfully appeal to the and its partners for support in providing a total of 35,000 trees to help restore these affected areas. Reforestation is essential to addressing the environmental challenges facing our communities, including drought, flooding, deforestation, soil erosion, and the loss of biodiversity.

Our team has conducted field visits to assess the affected sites and identify the most suitable tree species for successful growth and long-term environmental restoration. Through this initiative, we hope to improve ecosystem health, strengthen climate resilience, and create a greener and more sustainable future for the people of Tonkolili District.

We sincerely welcome the support and partnership of the Arbor Day Foundation and other environmental organizations in helping us achieve this important goal.

Together, we can restore our environment and protect future generations.

You can use this version in a proposal, funding request, or official letter to the Arbor Day Foundation and potential partners.

We are excited to highlight Baptist Model Secondary School, Magbenteh, Makeni, a key beneficiary of the district-wide reforestation initiative in Bombali. As part of a 24-school cohort, students are planting fruit and shade trees to create a greener, more sustainable learning environment. Special thanks to ADF and partners for their vital support in funding this program.
Arbor Day Foundation

In 2020, we successfully implemented a fruit and shade tree planting program in schools across Bombali District. A total of 24 schools benefited from the initiative, with each school receiving fruit and shade trees to help combat climate change, provide shade and oxygen, and improve nutrition within the school environment.

This program was proudly supported by the Arbor Day Foundation (ADF) through the Save Life Initiative in Maneji, Sierra Leone. The United Methodist Church Secondary School on Sesay Street, Fullah, was one of the beneficiary schools. Today, many of the fruit and shade trees planted under this program have grown into healthy, mature trees.

Building on this success, we look forward to expanding and continuing the tree plantintg initiative in 2026.
Arbor Day Foundation

The rise in illegal Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in Sierra Leone raises serious concerns about the need for stricter enforcement of laws and regulations by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Minerals Agency.

This situation contributes to land degradation, deforestation, and pollution, and is associated with broader social risks, including potential disruptions to children’s schooling, alongside serious environmental and health problems linked to the use of harmful chemicals such as mercury.