Bio-diversity

The Malambay Community Forest Conservation and Alternative Livelihood Project in Malambay and its surrounding communities is a small community based project. The primary aim of the project is to conserve the community forest and the biodiversity in it in order to reduce the high risk of food insecurity in the future. The community forest, Gbonkor Makanlu Forest, is the only closed canopy forest existing in Mambolo Chiefdom now. The project s focus is environmental conservation, development and poverty alleviation, through sustainable alternative livelihoods activities in order to help minimise communities over dependence on forest resources. These alternative livelihood activities will improve the standard of living and also provide support to local adaptation strategies, to reduce community vulnerabilities to the long-term effects of climate change and variability. It will impact positively on biodiversity by promoting habitats and preventing extinction. The project will also increase awareness and knowledge of the local community to natural resources management. The project will also improve community relations by reducing the competition for forest timber products. Establishment of local bylaws to govern the use of the forest will also reduce conflict and maintain a common knowledge and understanding on the use of the forest products.

Sierra Leone