In a bid to continue with its mandate as enshrined in the National Protected Area Authority and Conservation Trust Fund, Act of 2012, the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) in collaboration with the Office of the National Security (ONS), Sierra Leone Police (SLP)have concluded a stakeholders engagement and deployment of newly recruited Game Guards / Forest Guards within the south eastern region.
The deployment was fully supported by the United Nations Development program (UNDP).
In his statement to the various communities, the Law enforcement Manager, Mr. Dauda Langa Bangura explained the mandates of the authority, which he said is enshrined in the NPAA act of 2012. He said that the Forest/Game Guards cannot protect the forest all by themselves, adding therefore, they need the support of the communities. He called on the local authorities to work together with them.
“We should work as a team to protect the forest,” he said, adding that there are lots of benefits in the forest that cannot be left uncontrolled.
The representative from UNDP, Mr. Moi Sawray stated that his organization will continue tosupport the authority to protect the protected areas.
The Outreach and Communications Officer of NPAA, Mr. Cornelius Eku Randall thanked UNDP for their swift support in helping the authority to deployed the game guards across the country. He went on to appeal to other environmental partners to do likewise; to support NPAA to actualize its operational activities. He called on the game guards to take their work seriously.
Representatives from ONS, SLP, RSLAF also supported the process and urged the various community stakeholders to work hand in gloves with the Game Guards/Forest Guards.
The various chiefdoms benefitted from the deployment ; Pujehun district and Koya chiefdom in the Kenema district, and Bouhum Valunia chiefdom in Bo district.
