SIERRA LEONE: 100 Women Receive Training in Forestry Management

One Hundred (100) women have successfully graduated in forestry management in Kamakwie, northern Sierra Leone after a two-day intensive workshop organized by a non governmental organization, Young Green Women-Sierra Leone (YGW-SL). The training which targeted women between the ages of 18 and 35 was based on the topic ‘Sustainable Forestry Management for Community Development and Participation.'

The training facilitator, Mr. Santigie Momoh stressed to participants the importance of sustaining the forests, citing the Otamba Kilimi National Park that serves as tourist attraction as an example of the benefits for preserving our forests. He urged them to put what they have learned into practice by discouraging people from indiscriminately cutting down trees and burning bushes. He said destroying the country's forestry also meant destroying the habitat of endangered species.

Forest Protection Guard, Michael Mansaray in his contribution deplored the planting of tobacco, an activity he said was one of those that contributes to the destruction of forests as the farmers cut down trees for the process of curing tobacco. He admonished the participants to work with forestry as local representatives to see that the country's national resources are not destroyed.

In his remarks, Paramount Chief Kandeh Luseni III asked the women to treat the workshop with utmost seriousness in view of making meaningful contribution towards the preservation of their forests. He expressed thanks and appreciation to the organizers for choosing his chiefdom for the workshop. He also pleaded with them to continue sensitizing the locals through similar workshops.

On behalf of Young Green Women, Mr. Lesley Tam assured the chiefs and participants of his organization's continuous assistance in providing training sessions and workshops for especially women in that part of the country.