The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has launched four different reports with the aim to enhance environmental performance at Sierra Leona. The reports entitled the ‘State of the Environment’ Report; ‘State of the Marine Environment’ Report; ‘Coastal and Marine Oil Spill Sensitivity Maps’ and; the ‘Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan for Sierra Leone’ recommend action plans for implementation, according to local news.
The three reports cover marine coastal environment citing the Goderich/Lakka coastal stretch, massive pollution resulting from dumping of domestic waste at rivers and drainages and the unregulated mining on the beaches, which are problems that need urgent and holistic measures for an action to protect ecosystem, the keynote speaker Victor Strasser King said.
Professor Victor Strasser King further called on all stakeholders to take ownership of the reports as they will contribute to the implementation of the actions plans and recommendations in the report, at the ceremony held at the Maritime Adminstration House.
Especially, he streesed out the work of EPA which he said has done a lot in terms of fulfilling its mandate as the Authority has undertaken several studies relating to environment degradation strategies for mitigation and adaption. Adding that EPA has created awareness of the negative impacts on the planet; of climate change and how anthropogenic activities contribute to this phenomenon.
“The launching of the report is another milestone in the area of public education and environment protection,” he continued
The Chief Executive Officer of EPA Hadijatou Jallow is also reported to have spoken about the reports saying that the drafting team of the State of the Environment Report and State of the Marine Environment Report, the stakeholders in the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Planning made specific efforts to include consideration linked to cross cutting and emerging issues. This she maintained indicated that the reports “do not only focus on the contemporary issues but on wide ranging issues with the aim of redirecting our focus on most priority areas for speedy action”.
Furthermore, MDAs, CSO, donor partners and NGOs and the general population of the country were called to fully own the reports thereby following on recommendations and action plans for the improvement of the environment.
Statements were also delivered Mariatu Swaray on behalf of UNDP pledging her organisations support to environment issues and also to EPA and the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration Alhai Wurror Jalloh who emphasis the importance of environment in the development of any nation.
