Sierra Leone-Freetown: On Tuesday, 10th August 2021 the Environment Protection Agency in Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) held an expert group meeting at the Family Kingdom in Freetown to review the draft coastal and marine protection regulation.
The review would serve as the final stage of the draft coastal and marine protection regulation and it is geared towards deliberating on the mechanism that will offer effective management of the coastal zone that makes it productive and reduces risks.
In his welcome address, Dr. Bondi Gevao head of EPA-SL mentioned that they have decided to use the opportunity to domesticate the Abidjan Convention’s additional protocols that have already been ratified by the Government of Sierra Leone.
He furthered that since Sierra Leone does not have a comprehensive coastal zone protection law to regulate human activities and to enhance the protection and conservation of vulnerable marine and coastal areas, the EPA in 2020 requested financial support from UNDP to develop an integrated coastal and marine protection regulations.
“The EPA is of the view that, the potential impacts of unmanaged coastal zone and its resources have serious consequences on the environment, economic, social and human health. Therefore, there is an urgent call for a more comprehensive, coordinated and integrated sustainable management of our coastal zone,” he pointed out.
He said the regulation is expected to embrace a wide range of issues, and try to put into context what institutional roles or enforcement actions could save the coastal areas, its resources and provide safeguards to human life.
Among other things, he called on the experts to embrace the intervention and regard it as a key remedy to the problems “we face today and those we envisage in the very near future.”
In his statement, Honorable Yusuf Mackery, Chairman Committee on Environment said their presence at the review process is a fulfillment of their fundamental obligations bestowed on them by their subjects to represent them in diverse ways to pursue matters that are of national interest.
He added that the discussion around the costal and marine protection regulation is highly important and timely for the growth of the economy and strengthening the protection of the ecosystems.
“The ocean covers 71% of the Earth, so it is a home of more plants and animals than the land. Also, Marine and Coastal habitats provide many valuable ecosystem services for people such as protection from floods and storms, food, tourism and transportation,” he explained.
Hon. Mackery stated that as a supervisory body for the Ministry of Environment and its agencies, the committee will give its fullest support in the review process and the implementation of any other policies or regulations that can strengthen the promotion and protection of the environment.
During his keynote address, Professor Moriba Jaward, Minister of Environment said the Ministry recognizes the importance of the country’s maritime territorial zone as one of the most productive marine areas in the sub-region of West Africa.
“However, the abundant living and non-living marine resources and the ocean being a natural heritage of great scientific, cultural, educational, social, recreational and economic value for present and future generations requires effective and sustainable protection. So it is my firm belief that developing coastal and marine regulations would not have come at a suitable time than now,” he maintained.
Minister Jaward said it is his hope that the expert review of the final draft regulations will incorporate all relevant views and concerns, and all existing gaps fully addressed.
He mentioned among other things the sustainable management of mangroves, strategy for improved management of wetlands and vulnerable areas, protection of the marine environment from land-based sources and activities and sustainable beach and sand mining are expected to be incorporated into the regulations.
He said as a ministry they would support and ensure that the draft regulation is enacted.
ARK/11/8/2021