WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR RICH WESTERN AREA FOREST OF SIERRA LEOENE?

Forests have been identified as one of the richest ecosystems in the World because of its high diversity of floral and fauna. The Western Area Forest which historically covers the hills of the Freetown Peninsula and is the westernmost area of closed-canopy forest was documented in Sierra Leone. It is separated by about 160km from the nearest area of closed canopy forest, at Bo.

In order to conserve the forest, soil and water, the first part of the Western Area Forest Reserve was designated in 1916. Subsequent additions between 1916 and 1973 brought the total area of protected land to 17482 ha. Since the Wildlife Conservation Act 1972, the area was designated a non-hunting forest reserve. However, as shown in the figure, the area is steadily shrinking due to increased pressures from human encroachment.

Independent investigation on the management and administration the Western Area Forest Reserve revealed that it is under the administration and responsibility of the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Forestry. Land in Western Area outside the Forest Reserve is privately owned, in contrast to the situation elsewhere in Sierra Leone where most areas outside reserves are under chiefdom control.
Vegetation

Conservationists describe the Western Area Forest as Guineo-Congolian rainforest of the hygrophilous coastal evergreen type. It had a closed canopy at about 30 m or more with emergent trees rising above this canopy. The drier rocky slopes and summits support low scrub forest. The areas inland of the Peninsula are a mixture of farm-bush and scattered grassland with small remnants of Lophira savannah. Neighboring coastal areas support mangroves. Tacugama Forest Reserve was covered with primary and/or mature forests in the past. However, most of this area is now covered with secondary forest and farm bush, as a result of the heavy deforestation by shifting cultivation, charcoal burning and lumber extraction for building. More than 100 different species of birds have been identified in and around the Tacugama Forest Reserve.

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary which was established in 1995 is located in the beautiful Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve, close to Freetown - the capital city; the sanctuary covers 100 acres of important rainforest and watershed. It was established as a home to rehabilitate confiscated, orphaned and abandoned chimps. Sierra Leone has signed many international environmental conventions including CITES which makes it illegal to hunt, capture, kill or keep chimpanzees.

The sanctuary now takes care of over 90 chimps that were confiscated from individuals. Though much work has been undertaken towards stopping the illegal trade of these endangered species, and supporting the protection and conservation of chimpanzees in the wild through education, communication, the implementation and legal enforcement of national laws governing the protection of biodiversity remain problematic.

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