Freetown, 20 December
2010 The vital role of environmental assessments
in supporting the sustainable use of Sierra
Leone's rich natural heritage has won high
level support at a seminar
entitled 'Environmental Assessment: A Tool
for Sustainable Development', which took
place last week in the country's capital
of Freetown.
Speaking at the seminar,
organized by the Sierra Leone Environmental
Protection Agency (SLEPA) with support from
the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) and the Southern African Institute
for Environmental Assessment (SAIEA), the
Minister for Information, Mr. I E Kargbo,
said the pursuit of sustainable development
was this generation's task.
"We have been given
one of the greatest responsibilities of
all: saving the environment and we must
live up to that responsibility," Minister
Kargbo said during his keynote address.
"Recognizing the
indivisible link between poverty and environment,
the government of Sierra Leone now has policies
which have clearly attempted to reconcile
economic growth, social progress and the
environment in order to achieve sustainable
development," he added.
Around 150 representatives
from government, the private sector, civil
society and the international community
participated in the seminar which aimed
to improve understanding of the links between
the environment and sustainable development
and the role of environmental assessment.
The Executive Chairperson
of SLEPA, Haddijatou Jallow, underlined
the importance of environmental management
in Sierra Leone.
"Some will always
argue that environmental degradation is
the inevitable price we pay for our development
and economic growth" she said. "This
invites and excuses environmental irresponsibility.
We must stand firm against environmental
irresponsibility," she added.
Also speaking at the
seminar, the Executive Representative of
the UN Secretary General and UN Resident
Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Mr. Michael
von der Schulenburg, commended the work
of SLEPA. Other speakers included the Executive
Director of SAIEA, Dr. Peter Tarr.
UNEP is active in Sierra
Leone providing a range of environmental
expertise to the UN Country Team. In conjunction
with SAIEA, UNEP's ongoing work on environmental
assessment includes conducting training
on assessment methodology, mentoring SLEPA
officers, facilitating environmental monitoring
trips by jeep and helicopter, and providing
advice on legislation, fee structures and
guidelines for environmental impact assessments.
Oli Brown, UNEP's Programme
Coordinator in Sierra Leone, noted that
the country is rich in mineral resources.
"These resources could help Sierra
Leone move away from donor dependency and
towards economic growth, new jobs, providing
the money to pay for hospitals and schools,
build new roads and improving services.
But, as experience around the world shows,
if managed badly, the reckless exploitation
of those resources will damage development."
UNEP's programme in
Sierra Leone follows the release in February
2010 of the Sierra Leone Environment, Conflict
and Peacebuilding Assessment completed as
part of UNEP's Environmental Cooperation
for Peacebuilding project which involves
offering technical assistance to Member
States and the UN system to sustainably
manage natural resources and the environment.
