Sierra Leone News: Environmental Monitoring is central in Development – EPA chair

Politics

Executive Chairperson of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Madame Jattou Jallow yesterday said that Environmental Monitoring has now become central in the development process. She made this statement while officially launching the national environmental quality monitoring committees. The launching ceremony took place at the Civil Service Training College at State Avenue on Monday 4th May 2015 which brought about major stakeholders in the field. She made it clear that Environmental monitoring describes the processes and activities that need to take place to characterize and monitor the quality of the environment. She added that Environmental monitoring includes monitoring of environmental quality and emissions to the environment, monitoring of environmental quality includes both the measurable environmental quality (soil, waste, ambient air quality) The chairperson of EPA went further to say that our planet is at the brink of an environmental crisis; some world leaders have called for an ecological civilization others for development without destruction. The level of environmental degradation in the country is unprecedented with the reckless, senseless, wanton destruction of the sensitive valuable ecosystems is occurring at an alarming rate. Madame Jattou Jallow added that the way we impact our environment today will make a big difference on the world’s future generations. Our natural environment becomes unbalanced and sustainable when it is polluted but however if guidelines, standards and regulations regarding pollutants are formulated, monitoring to ensure that these standards and guidelines are adhered to must be put in place as well. In her statement, the chairperson of the programme, Dr Nana Pratt started by welcoming her audience, as application of knowledge and understanding is our problem in the country, as people fail to apply the knowledge they have gained, so that others will learn and for the betterment of the country. She also added that the release of various matters into the space has been disturbing the natural equilibrium. She also said that in order to maintain these natural equilibrium we must manage our activities, as we must put in place formal structures which should be worked with as there are so many institutions that are interacting the Environment. She urged all to bring their knowledge and experience on the draft document and ensure that when they get back they share the knowledge. She also appealed to them to commit to good practice and do their own bit to care for the environment. By Nancy Koroma Tuesday May 05, 2015

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