The Beautification Rehabilitation and Conservation Organization (BRACO) has partnered with PetroJetty SL Ltd to plant 2,000 trees across two communities in Freetown, in a bid to promote environmental restoration and climate resilience.
Launching the initiative in Kissy Dockyards and Mongeba, BRACO Executive Director Sheiku Rogers urged residents to embrace tree planting in urban and industrial areas such as Kissy Dockyards, Culvert, and surrounding communities.
PetroJetty’s ESG Ambassador, Familiah Rahman, said the company was committed to being a “good neighbor” to Kissy, ensuring that communities benefit from tree planting through nutrition, cash income, and ecosystem protection.
The ceremony, chaired by retired Director of Environment Edward Bendu, brought together traditional chiefs, local government representatives, and youth leaders tasked with guiding their peers in the exercise.
Deputy Forest Conservator Joseph Banya praised the initiative, describing it as a link between climate change resilience, community risk reduction, and corporate social responsibility. National Protected Area Authority Director Sheik Tunis called on more corporations to scale up environmental support, stressing that restoration efforts benefit both nature and surrounding communities.
The campaign, which runs until October, will see the planting of 2,000 trees of economic and restorative value in Kissy Shell and Mongeba.
Sierra Leone’s Deforestation Crisis
Sierra Leone has suffered significant deforestation in recent decades, losing nearly 25% of its forest cover in the past 20 years. As of 2023, only about 34% of the country’s land area remains under forest, down sharply from previous levels.
Drivers of Deforestation
- Agricultural expansion and slash‑and‑burn farming
- Illegal logging for timber and charcoal
- Mining and urbanization pressures
- Charcoal production as a primary energy source
Consequences
- Increased risk of floods, landslides, and droughts
- Loss of biodiversity, including habitats for endangered species such as the western chimpanzee
- Reduced carbon sequestration, worsening climate change impacts
- Declining soil fertility and water regulation, threatening agriculture and food security
Why This Initiative Matters
The BRACO–PetroJetty tree planting drive is a direct response to Sierra Leone’s deforestation crisis. By restoring ecosystems, stabilizing soils, and providing long‑term community benefits, the project demonstrates how partnerships between NGOs, communities, and private companies can help reverse forest loss and build resilience against climate change.