The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with relevant line MDAs, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA), and the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, recently conducted an assessment visit within the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary and its surrounding areas. The purpose of the visit was to assess the extent of encroachment in the region and to engage local stakeholders in preventing further occurrences.
This visit follows a press statement issued by the Ministry, which strongly warned against the increasing encroachment and the surge in illegal activities in the surrounding areas.
During the assessment, it was evident that the 6, 000 hectares of land handed by the Ministry of Lands as a buffer zone within Tacugama and its surroundings have been exponentially tampered with.
Permanent Secretary Edward Kwame Yankson in his opening remarks emphasized that the goal of the visit was to engage the community about the dangers of harmful environmental practices and to develop collective measures to curb unauthorized activities. He stressed community’s responsibility in protecting and preserving the environment.
Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Nabeela Tunis highlighted the serious consequences of unauthorized construction, tree cutting, and other illegal activities near the sanctuary, stressing that such actions have far-reaching impacts on wildlife and the environment. She reiterated that, in collaboration with line MDAs and local communities, they will work to restore damaged areas and prevent future harm. The Minister also emphasized that this year’s campaign on ecotourism focuses on the preservation and conservation of the environment, and the Ministry will continue to engage with communities on their responsibilities to protect and conserve the environment. She further warned that both the Tecuyama Dam and the World Bank-funded facility at Tacugama are at risk due to these activities.
In distress and disappointment, Bala Amarasekaran, the founder of the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, warned that if these actions by land grabbers continue Sierra Leone will no longer have its pristine forest at the peninsular area. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the level of encroachment near the sanctuary and noted that if stringent measures are not implemented to deter illegal activities, all the efforts made over the years to conserve and preserve the environment will be in vain.
The assessment was climaxed with the installation of warning signposts at various locations to raise awareness that Tacugama and its surroundings are designated as a protected area.
MTCA Communications