The city aims to reverse deforestation and climate risks with 5 million trees by 2028
By George. M.O. Williams
Sierra Leone — The Freetown City Council (FCC) has unveiled a bold new phase of its #FreetownTheTreeTown campaign, targeting the restoration of 5,000 hectares of land and the planting of five million trees, shrubs, and grasses by 2028. The initiative is part of the city’s Climate Action Strategy to combat deforestation, reduce disaster risk, and build long-term climate resilience.
Announced during a press conference and media site visit to Congo Town and Fourah Bay College Botanical Garden on October 29, 2025, the campaign aims to increase vegetation cover by 50%, sequester 100,000 tons of carbon, and reduce the frequency and intensity of environmental disasters across more than 300 communities.
A Community-Led Green Revolution
FCC’s Head of the Mayor’s Delivery Unit, Manja Kargbo, described the initiative as a “homegrown solution” originally funded by Freetownians. She noted that over 1.2 million trees have already been planted across the Western Area, with more than 5,000 community stewards and youth growers actively engaged in the project.
“This is about restoring our environment and empowering communities to thrive,” Kargbo said.
The TreeTown model is pioneering a community-based, self-financing impact investment system that creates green jobs for women and youth while countering deforestation. FCC plans to scale up the campaign through carbon market investments to ensure sustainability.
Coastal Protection and Urban Resilience
In 2024, the project planted 275,000 mangroves in vulnerable coastal areas, including Kolleh Town, Ojuku, and Kroo Bay, to combat erosion and flooding. The initiative also aims to reduce annual water shortages and heat stress for the 35% of residents living in zinc-roofed homes in informal settlements.
Deforestation: A Looming Threat
Freetown has been losing forest cover at an alarming rate. Between 2011 and 2018, the city lost approximately 500,000 trees annually, according to FCC’s Climate Change Focal Person, Yatta Kallon. If this trend continues, Freetown could be treeless by 2044, exposing its 1.2 million residents to extreme heat, water scarcity, landslides, and food insecurity.
The Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve, once a thriving ecosystem, has been severely degraded due to urban expansion, logging, and land conversion. Rapid deforestation has left hillside and coastal communities particularly vulnerable, especially the 60% of Freetown’s population living in informal settlements.
Call to Action
Councillor Unisa Kamara urged the media and public to support the initiative, warning that the tree-planting campaign is vital for the city’s survival but often overlooked.
“Many have turned a blind eye to the project,” Kamara said. “We need to raise awareness about the value of trees and the dangers of unchecked deforestation.”
Francis Reffel, Executive Director of CODOSAPA, praised the campaign as a community-driven effort that supports both environmental restoration and livelihoods in coastal areas.
If successful, Freetown envisions planting an additional 15 million trees by 2050, setting a new benchmark for urban reforestation and climate resilience in West Africa.