VZCZCXRO5010
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0441/01 1521715
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011715Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9857
INFO RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE 0037
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000441 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, OES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV EAID PREL SL
 
SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE DEBATES A STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL 
ACTION PLAN, USG HELPS 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. The newly formed National Commission on Environment 
and Forestry (NaCEF) is reaching out to other 
stakeholders in the development of its Strategic Action 
Plan.  The Regional Environmental Hub Officer made a 
presentation at a one-day conference about the lessons 
Sierra Leone could learn from the Congo Basin Forest 
Partnership model, which increased donor attention and 
funding to the area.  A World Bank presentation focused 
on accessing funds through the Bank's Global Environment 
Fund (GEF) for biodiversity conservation.  The USG has 
shown unique interest in Sierra Leone's need for 
environmental protection and demonstrates that we can be 
good environmental stewards.  NaCEF will need much 
outside assistance if they are to help combat Sierra 
Leone's environmental problems, especially the rapid 
deforestation in the Western Area's watershed.  End 
Summary. 
 
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New Commissioner Reaches Out 
To Map The Future 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2. In late May 2006, NaCEF Executive Commissioner Chris 
Squire invited EconOff and Regional Environmental Hub 
Officer (REO) to comment on a draft Strategic Action Plan 
for the country's diminishing forest and wildlife 
resources.  NaCEF is a new institution created by 
President Kabbah in 2005 to coordinate the work of 
overlapping ministries, such as Agriculture (which 
includes the Forestry Division and Wildlife Conservation 
Branch), Lands (which includes the Environment Division), 
the Judiciary, and law enforcement bodies in Sierra 
Leone. 
 
¶3. In a day-long conference, Squire gathered local and 
international NGOs, researchers, the World Bank and REO 
to review with ministry officials a draft Strategic 
Action Plan defining priority actions in three subject 
areas: coordination within Sierra Leone's institutions; 
protected areas and biodiversity management; and overall 
land use and environmental management.  Activities were 
proposed for the short, medium and long term and included 
plans for internal reform, building partnerships and 
increasing donors participation in conserving Sierra 
Leone's fragmented habitats and wildlife. 
 
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REO CALLS FOR PARTNERING, COOPERATION 
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¶4. REO urged GOSL officials to consider partnering with 
neighboring states to increase cooperation and develop a 
regional strategy for conserving forest resources. 
Examples were given from Central Africa to demonstrate 
how concerted action can attract other donors and the 
multiple benefits of cross-border initiatives.  The most 
pertinent example was that of the Congo Basin Forest 
Partnership, a regional body that has successfully 
attracted the donor community's attention and commitment. 
NaCEF officials discussed their difficulties in achieving 
communication and cooperation among ministries.  Many 
forestry officials felt that it would be difficult to 
implement strategies without a clear legal mandate for 
the Commission, which mandate has unfortunately not yet 
been established by parliament or the executive branch. 
 
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Accessing World Bank Environment Funding 
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¶5. A World Bank presentation focused on what Sierra Leone 
needs to do next to access the World Bank's Global 
Environment Fund (GEF) for its biodiversity conservation 
project proposal.  The project envisions the protection 
of eight biodiversity areas throughout the country.  One 
of the GEF requirements is for the proposal to identify a 
sustainable long-term funding mechanism: many favor a 
trust fund.  The Royal Society for the Protection of 
Birds (RSPB) and Bird Life International are working to 
establish a trust fund for one of the biodiversity 
hotspots - the Gola Forest - and hope to establish the 
mechanism nationwide. 
 
 
FREETOWN 00000441  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶6. World Bank representative Edward Dwumfor emphasized a 
systematic approach to evaluating funding mechanisms, 
however, cautioning that Sierra Leone has no history with 
public/private partnerships but a long history of 
political instability, no domestic framework to establish 
such a fund, and many open questions as to whether there 
is sufficient management capacity and links to the 
banking sector in order to make such a trust fund fly. 
In the end, participants drafted a scope of work for a 
consultant who would evaluate the various options for a 
long-term funding mechanism. 
 
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USG Interest in Protecting Sierra Leone's Environment 
Protects Our Own Environmental Reputation 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶7.  Protecting Sierra Leone's environment has received 
attention not only by post and the REO but also by two 
USG technical agencies over the past year.  In June of 
2005, a delegation of the USDA/Forest Service provided 
recommendations for better management of the Western Area 
Forest Preserve, a critical watershed area and 
biodiversity reserve near the capital.   In addition, the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided a grant for a 
research team to carry out elephant census work in 
Outamba-Kilimi National Park, on Sierra Leone's northern 
border with Guinea.  Also, USAID provides funds to 
conservation projects, including with RSPB and Bird Life 
International on the Gola Forest Conservation Concession 
Program, which works with local communities to stop 
illegal hunting activities and manage resources 
sustainably. 
 
¶8. This interest makes the USG the only country working 
with Sierra Leone bilaterally on environmental issues, 
providing Post with a unique opportunity to help shape 
NaCEF's agenda and build U.S. environmental credibility. 
(Note: The New Embassy Compound is being constructed 
inside the boundaries of the increasingly deforested 
Western Area Forest Preserve.  The Ministry of Lands, 
Country Planning, and Environment offered the NEC 
building site to Post, but they never ran it by the 
Foresty Division, which sits in the Ministry of 
Agriculture.  This is one of the inter-ministerial 
hurdles to communication that NaCEF is meant to 
eliminate.  End Note.) 
 
¶9. One of the hot topics of discussion with 
environmentalists in Sierra Leone is the construction of 
the New Embassy Site and the rash of uncontrolled 
building in the northern part of the WAFP that has 
resulted.  We are working closely with a local NGO 
consortium, the Environmental Forum for Action, to 
participate in a national tree planting day to 
commemorate World Environment Day on June 5. 
 
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Comment 
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¶10.  Sierra Leone has a dynamic environmental leader in 
the person of Chris Squire, but he has a huge task ahead 
of him and needs all the help he can get.  The strategic 
plan is a good first step and should be followed by the 
explicit backing of the legislative and executive branch. 
Post has made an effort to engage with Squire and has 
sought opportunities to portray the U.S. Government as a 
responsible environmental steward.  At the moment, the 
U.S. Forest Service is eager to provide their assistance, 
but no funding has materialized yet.  While there are no 
ready solutions, Post and REO are convinced that the 
severity and immediacy of current deforestation trends 
merit further USG support.  Deforestation has reduced key 
watershed areas, leading to flooding, siltation, 
landslides and gully erosion.  Left unchecked, 
deforestation and watershed degradation will be costly to 
Sierra Leone's fragile economy.  END COMMENT. 
HULL