Conservation of the Sierra Leonean Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve (WAPFR) & its Watershed (EuropeAid/126201/C/ACT/Multi)

Transcription

1 Conservation of the Sierra Leonean Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve (WAPFR) & its Watershed (EuropeAid/126201/C/ACT/Multi)

2 Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve (WAPFR) and its Watershed Project Context Setting Deforestation and its Reasons Problem Analysis Development of Solutions Draft New Forest Reserve Boundary

3 Project Description: Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve (WAPFR) and its Watershed Implementing Agency: Co-Donor: Partner: Associate: Location(s) of the action: Budget/Costs: Deutsche e.v. (WHH) European Union Environmental Forum for Action () Forestry Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Food Security (MAFFS) Environment Division, Ministry of Land, Country Planning & Environment (MLCPE) Sierra Leone, Western Region, Western Area Peninsula EUR 3.1 million (80& EU, 20% ) Implementation period: 03/2009 to 02/2014 Target groups: 50,000 people living in 30 villages adjacent to the Forest Reserve Final beneficiaries: The greater population of Freetown, estimates vary between 974,000 and 1,500,000 Objectives of the action: Overall Objective: Participatory processes in decision making on the sustainable use of natural resources are introduced and contribute to reduce rural poverty in the Western Area Peninsula Specific Objective: The Sierra Leonean (WAPFR) and its watershed are conserved and sustainably managed for the benefit of the adjacent population, particularly the poor Result 1: The (WAPFR) is newly demarcated and zonal management plans are established. Result 2: Local communities around the reserve participate actively and benefit from services rendered through the reserve and additional programs. Result 3: Innovative pro-poor financing mechanisms for forest conservation are piloted: such as carbon finance program (REDD, avoided deforestation) and private business enhancement for ecotourism

4 Western Area Peninsula Territory above ha Hill land up to 971 (Picket Hill) Population: about 1,5 Million Forest Coverage ha Main tendencies High economical pressure Increasing Population Deforestation Rate: assumed 2% annually Danger of 1. Drying out of water supply areas 2. Increasing erosion accidents 3. Loss of touristic attractions (biodiversity, coastline, climate)

5 Deforestation Rate of 2% Northern Peak of Peninsula Legend Leicester Peak Land Use in 1974 Land Use in 1993 Freetown Land Use in 2010 Forest Reserve Boundary Reasons: -Increase in Population incl. Displaced caused by Civil War -Modern Life Style: Big houses, vehicles/ transport -Agriculture/ Construction December 2010 Activities Moku Hills, Sierra Leone

6 Northern Peak of Peninsula Regent Forest Reserve Leicester Peak Hill Station Lumley Freetown Water Works Wilberforce About people settling in ancient Forest Reserve Unclear land attribution Werstern Area Peninsula Forest Reserve

7 Deforestation Rate of 2%: Moku Hills and Surroundings Legend C Coal Pits W Wood Lot Production Forest Reserve Boundary S Settlement Spot Satellite Analysis 2006/ Forest Boundary Assumption on Community Bush Cleared Land, e.g. Agriculture, Wood Lots, Construction... Werstern Area Peninsula Forest Reserve

8 Deforestation Rate of 2%: Tombo Area Did you know? Kent Extension Forest Reserve Forest Reserve Cleared Areas In Tombo are more than 500 women doing fish smoking daily Each women consumes 10 bundles of wood today Tombo This makes 5000 bundles by day or approx. 500 trees a day = more then trees a year

9 Kent Forest under Danger! Area of Kent Extension: 2063 acr. = 835 ha Factual Forest: approx. 938 acr. = 380 ha Fuel Wood Project Farm Land Legend C Coal Pits W Wood Lot Production Forest Reserve Boundary S Stone Mining Construction Zone Grass Land January Farm Land 2011 Coal Production Stone Mining

10 Main Reason: Fuel Wood, Charcoal and Poles Extraction The lack of cheap and affordable electricity and fuel (kerosene) in the Urban as well as in the rural areas, mean that energy needs have to be met from alternative sources. The most common and frequently utilized energy sources are fuel wood and charcoal and the bulk of these come from the exploitation of preferred species from lowland rain forests, mangrove swamp forests and the Lophira savannah in the North of the country. An estimated 85 percent of the Sierra Leonean population is dependent on the use of fuel wood and charcoal for domestic heating and cooking. This percentage is expected to rise as the population increases and no investment is made in the production of modern electricity needs. On a daily basis, one can see many heavy-laden truckloads of fuel wood and charcoal being brought to the city of Freetown from the Western Area Peninsular Forest and other part of the country. Most of the coastal mangrove swamp forests along WAPFR have being depleted as demand for wood for fish smoking and evaporation of salt has laid to waste vast areas of former prime mangrove swamps. This practice has been identified as detrimental to the breeding of marine biological diversity. Construction poles also form a significant portion of the non-timber forest products extracted from the lowland rain forest ecosystem. Farm bush form the preferred sites for the exploitation of poles with Anisophyiles laurina and Pentadesma bulyraceae comprising the bulk of poles brought into Freetown for sale.

11 Stone Quarrying What is stone quarrying/mining? An activity where stones are dug for the purpose of building, making roads and the like through breaking, cutting, digging or blasting. Impact of stone quarrying on the environment Cascading impactremoval or weakening of a rock will generate a ripple environmental effect, where it undermines the nearby natural system, which in turn respond by causing other impacts; the loss of vegetation is one important impact Geomorphic impactremoval of stones will lead to the distortion of the ecology of the area including habitat destruction, caves and natural sinkholes. Some of the rocks like limestone has been proven that in situ has more value as a source of water than crushing them. The environmental impact of removing rocks is a function of the size of the quarry, number of quarries and the location of the quarry. This means both the industrial and individual quarrying has negative impact on the environment. Noise and Dust The noise and dust will negatively effect the biodiversity, neighborhood and tourism industry Cause erosion as the soil get loose The soil gets lousy and is more in danger to get effected by heavy rain and wind leading to land slides and heavy flooding

12 Stone Mining around WAPFR CPA Resources Forest Reserve CSE Regi Emanuel Gray Co Ltd Lion Cooperation CSE Home Builders Stone Company Colony Forest Reserve Forest Reserve Kent Forest Reserve Extension Siedya Co. Ltd January 2011 Werstern Area Peninsula Forest Reserve

13 Illegal Agriculture

14 Main Reason: Settlements/ Land About inhabitants around Freetown live in areas where was forest some ten (10) years back Land is an interesting speculation item Suburbanization/ Change in Life Style Improvement of Infrastructure Agriculture Grapping Regent Hasting/ Grafting Moku Hills Manama Hill

15 Functions of Forest

16 Problem: Water Supply Facts: 20% of population of Sierra Leone depend on WAPFR water supply Streams and Catchment Areas in WAPFR Demand of water in WAPFR is 26 million gallons by day, current supply only 14 million gallons: minus of 12 million gallons Guma Vally Catchment Area is only the 16 th biggest on Western Area Peninsula. There is a potential to develop further dam areas Risks: Without the water retention and storage capacities of the tropical rain forest ecosystem, erosion would lead to sedimentation of the Guma and the Congo dams, which are the main sources of drinking water for the population of Freetown. This would drastically reduce the amount of water that can be stored in the dams during the rainy season and supplied to Freetown. Water Catchment Areas

17 Problem: Water Supply Facts: Each rural community is pleased by at least one stream supplying their community; mini dams for water supply can be easily developed Water supply for eastern Freetown is mainly coming from Orgoue Mountain which is highly in danger by settlement and other forms of encroachments There is no policy to keep water clean, e.g. Washing in drinking water reserves Risks: Without the water retention and storage capacities of the tropical rain forest ecosystem, villages could face severe flooding. Perennial springs and rivers used as sources of drinking water by the rural population would dry up during the dry season. This already the case in some locations. Health Problematic

18 Erosion/ Flooding

19 Problem: Civil Unrest Due to disasters (flooding/ land slides) Land Ownership: Who is the owner, Community or State? Example: Land Survey for Parliamentarian at River Number 2 Community Land, Date 17 th January 2011

20 Problem: Loss of Touristic Attraction and Biodiversity

21 Sustainable Way Forward New and final Boundary of Forest Reserve Participatory Zoning Study/ Awareness Raising, Livelihood, Community Bush Management Excellent enforcement of FR boundary Permanent prohibition of settlement inside reserve Clarification between community land and state land Penalty Scheme for Encroachers Intensive Monitoring

22 Forest Reserve Boundary WAPFR was installed 1916 by colonial power Extensions Freetown Water Works, Public Notice Nr. 51 Leicester Peak, Public Notice Nr. 3 Moku Hills, Public Notice Nr. 3 River Number 2, Public Notice Nr. 150 Waterloo Extension, Public Notice Nr. 95 John Obey Extension, Public Notice Nr. 211 Kent Extension, Public Notice Nr. 52, Sierra Leone

23 Western Area Forest Reserve -Water Reserve for Greater Freetown -Biodiversity Hotspot -Protector against Natural Disasters/ Cooler for Peninsula - Nature Park/ Touristic Area/ Weekend Relaxation

24 Draft new FR Boundary: Leicester Peak Old FR Boundary Leicester Peak IMAT European Union New FR Boundary US Embassy Freetown Water Works Extension

25 Draft new FR Boundary: Manama Hill New FR Boundary Freetown Water Works Extension IMAT Manama Old FR Boundary Hill Station

26 Draft new FR Boundary: Moku Hills New FR Boundary Old FR Boundary

27 Draft new FR Boundary: John Obey Extension Old FR Boundary New FR Boundary John Obey Extension Surrounded by 51acr Wood Lots Enough Fire Wood for Fishing Communities of York and John Obey Importance on Management of (1) Wood Lots, (2) Extension/ January 2011 Community Forest

28 Proposed New Demarcation Kent Area Original of Kent Area Extension: of Kent 2063 Extension: acr. = 835 ha 2063 acr. = 835 ha Factual Forest: approx. Factual 938 acr. Forest: = 380 ha approx. 938 acr. = 380 ha Extension Proposed New Demarcation: approx 1440 acr. = 600 ha Forest Boundary 2006 John Obey Extension Proposed new Demarcation Kent Extension Kent Extension Forest Reserve

29 Draft new FR Boundary: Banana Islands New FR Boundary

30 Draft new FR Boundary: Waterloo Extension New FR Boundary Old FR Boundary

31 Draft new FR Boundary: Orugue Mountain: Important for Water Supply Eastern Freetown New FR Boundary FR Reserve March2011

32 Excellent enforcement of this boundary Permanent prohibition of settlement inside reserve Clarification between community land and state land Penalty Scheme for Encroachers Intensive Monitoring Management of Forest Guards Awareness Raising/ Education Livelihood Development

33 Conservation of the Sierra Leonean Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve (WAPFR) & its Watershed (EuropeAid/126201/C/ACT/Multi)