By Paul Lamin
Humanist Watch Salone has launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at building community resilience and safeguarding biodiversity and healthy ecosystems in Sierra Leone. The project was formally unveiled on Tuesday, 16th September 2025, at the Opportunity Training Center (OTC) in Kenema, bringing together local authorities, civil society organizations, youth groups, and environmental stakeholders.
The initiative will be implemented in selected communities across Kenema and Kailahun districts, two regions renowned for their rich biodiversity but increasingly threatened by unsustainable human activities such as deforestation, mining, and unregulated farming practices.
Speaking during the launch, the National Coordinator Humanist Watch Salone Christopher Morie Braima underscored the urgent need to empower communities to take ownership of their environment. “Our ecosystems are under pressure, and without collective action, future generations will suffer the consequences. This project is about strengthening local knowledge, building resilience against climate shocks, and protecting biodiversity as the foundation of sustainable development,” he said. Christopher Morie Braima said the project seeks to promote sustainable land use and forest conservation practices, support community-led initiatives to restore degraded ecosystems, enhance awareness on biodiversity protection and climate change adaptation and also build resilience through training, alternative livelihoods, and community engagement.
Stakeholders and community representatives present at the launch pledged their support, stressing that protecting forests, rivers, and wildlife is crucial not only for the environment but also for food security, health, and livelihoods.
A representative from the Kenema district civil society Patrick Adu described the project as “timely and essential,” adding that it aligns with both national climate priorities and global commitments to environmental protection.
Program Manager Humanist Watch Salone John Ansu Luseni stated that the programme will also engage women’s groups, and youth networks to ensure grassroots participation. He said Humanist Watch Salone believes that inclusive community action is central to restoring balance between human development and nature.
He said as the implementation begins soonest, residents of Kenema and Kailahun will remain hopeful that the project will strengthen their ability to adapt to environmental changes while safeguarding the forests, farmlands, and rivers on which their survival depends.
