In a bold defiance of President Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to protecting the Western Area Peninsula National Park and its Green Belt zone, illegal land encroachers continue to expand their activities, raising serious environmental and legal concerns.

On Friday, February 7, 2025, officials from the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA), Guma Valley Water Company, the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone and community representatives from Sussex conducted an inspection of the national park following a series of devastating bushfires.

The team discovered widespread destruction allegedly caused by land grabbers linked to influential figures, including military officers and a senior parliamentary official. Construction caretakers at various sites identified high-ranking officials as the purported owners of unfinished buildings in areas such as Bio Barray and One Ose (No. 2 River community), both located within the protected zone.

The bushfires, believed to be acts of arson by land speculators, serve as a crucial test of President Bio’s determination to enforce environmental protection laws and prevent unauthorized settlements in the Western Area Peninsula National Park.

President Bio had previously emphasized the urgency of tackling illegal encroachment. During a visit to the Guma Dam in April 2022, he underscored the existential threat posed by deforestation and land grabbing, declaring: “The Western Area Forest Green Belt is protected by law. This is very annoying and concerning. All those responsible should face the law. This is an existential threat that will not be tolerated. We are going to re-establish the Green Belt and protect it.”

He further stressed the importance of responsible urban development, stating: “As much as we want everyone to build homes, we should do it within the confines of the law. Guma (Dam) is a major water source for Freetown and encroachment into the land will limit water storage and access. If you undermine the environment, it will not protect you.”

Despite these strong pronouncements, illegal encroachment has continued at an alarming rate. In September 2023, Dr. Isata Mahoi, co-chair of a special investigative committee on land encroachment, reported that the Western Area Peninsula National Park had lost 24% of its protected area between Mile 13 and Tokeh, with over 900 unauthorized structures identified.

The committee recommended an immediate ban on all illegal activities within the Green Belt, including quarry mining and unauthorized construction. Additionally, it proposed the establishment of a physical boundary to clearly demarcate the protected area.

In response to these findings, President Bio authorized the Minister of Climate Change and the Environment in May 2024 to lead the demolition of illegal structures within the national park. During a town hall meeting in July 2024, he reiterated his warning to Government officials and other prominent individuals who had acquired fraudulent land documents, stating that any unauthorized buildings within the park and Green Belt area would be demolished.

Despite these efforts, satellite imagery and environmental reports indicate that illegal deforestation and encroachment persist. A recent study by the World Food Programme’s HQ Asset Impact Monitoring from Space (AIMS) team revealed that between December 2023 and March 2024, the Western Area Peninsula National Park lost 550 hectares of forest. Since 2000, a total of 4,000 hectares (22% of the park’s total land area) has been deforested.

Meanwhile, the Guma Valley Water Company and other environmental stakeholders have expressed grave concerns about the latest bushfires between River #2 and Baw Baw communities, warning that these fires endanger the sustainability of Freetown’s primary water source. The destruction of vegetation weakens the soil, increasing the risk of erosion, landslides and mudslides, which could further jeopardize water supplies.

As land grabbers and their powerful sponsors continue to defy the law, environmental advocates are calling on all stakeholders to support Government efforts in protecting the national park. The NPAA, Guma Valley Water Company and other conservation groups urge immediate and decisive action to safeguard the Western Area Peninsula National Park, ensuring that future generations benefit from its rich biodiversity and water resources.

President Bio’s administration now faces a critical test: will it stand firm against encroachment and enforce the rule of law or will powerful land grabbers continue to undermine Sierra Leone’s environmental security?