“The environmental conservation sector in Sierra Leone is facing an exciting yet challenging time. As our country progresses we are faced with greater pressure on our natural environment and limited capacity to control such pressure. Yet, at the same time we are on the cusp of realising a dream of a protected areas network in Sierra Leone.

The Gola Rainforest National Park has even more importance in this light; it is our first rainforest national park and our first large scale REDD project for a protected area. It is, therefore, being closely watched as a flagship conservation project in our country and, indeed, Africa.”