Environmental policy and administrative management

Mining activities in Sierra Leone contribute to major disruptions in livelihoods of poor communities through land degradation and deforestation. This is one of the factors which has continued to constantly keep Sierra Leoneans in the vicious cycle of penury. Coupled with the debilitating effects of the ruthless 10 year civil conflict in Sierra Leone, land degradation and deforestation pose real challenges to the achievement of the socio-economic transformation of the country. The project location is largely a mining area, where the Sierra Rutile Limited is currently operating. Almost close to 95% of communities within these areas mainly depend on subsistence agriculture as a means of livelihood. However, intensive mining activities have rendered most of the arable land unfit for agricultural purposes. Farm lands have become neglected mined-out areas with virtually little or no effort to address short and long term environmental challenges marginalized communities grapple with. This has serious ramifications on livelihoods of affected households within the mining areas. This project is designed to respond to some of these challenges through an empowerment and transformational approach.

Sierra Leone