Forests supply 90% of Freetown's water
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sierra Loaded
Illustrative image · ODC-SIERRA-LEONEThe forested catchments of the Western Area Peninsula National Park supply about 90% of Freetown's water, according to the National Water Resources Management Agency. At a meeting in Freetown, its director Pierre Palmer called for these ecosystems to be restored in the face of deforestation and unregulated construction.
The forested catchments of the Western Area Peninsula National Park supply about 90% of Freetown's water, according to Pierre Palmer, director general of Sierra Leone's National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA). He called for stronger protection and restoration of these ecosystems in the face of deforestation, land occupation, unregulated construction, quarrying and pollution, Sierra Loaded reports.
Early results of an assessment carried out in 29 communities show that about 69% of the water sources examined face significant threats within a 50-metre radius. At the same time, 93% of the households surveyed support watershed protection, according to Pierre Palmer.
The NWRMA is working with WASH-Net Sierra Leone, Youth Partnership for Peace and Development, the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme as part of an ecosystem restoration initiative. Pierre Palmer also highlighted the Western Area Peninsula Water Fund, launched in January 2024 to mobilise public, private and community funding for watershed protection, Sierra Loaded reports.
