The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a €9 million contribution from the European Union (EU) to launch a three-year project aimed at reducing biodiversity loss and enhancing the livelihoods of communities living in and around protected areas in Sierra Leone. The initiative, titled Nature Nourishes Territorial Approach for Local Development (NN-TALD), is designed to benefit 75,000 smallholder farmers and vulnerable groups who depend on natural resources. By combining policy-level support with grassroots engagement, the project seeks to promote environmentally friendly practices, expand livelihood opportunities, and strengthen inclusive public service delivery around national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and forest reserves.
WFP Representative and Country Director Yvonne Forsen emphasized that the initiative will empower communities through sustainable agriculture, inclusive governance, and increased resilience to climate shocks. Sierra Leone’s ecosystems, covering over 661,575 hectares, are rich in biodiversity but face increasing threats from deforestation, mining, unsustainable farming, and climate change. Local communities rely heavily on natural resources, often creating tensions between conservation goals and survival needs.
The project aligns with Sierra Leone’s decentralization reforms, which empower chiefdom councils and local communities to lead sustainable resource management and development. NN-TALD supports the country’s national development plan and sectoral strategies, including the Protect Salone Strategy led by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC). A key feature of the project is a data-driven conservation approach, in partnership with WFP’s Asset Impact Monitoring from Space (AIMS) team, which will use remote sensing technology to regularly monitor forest cover and guide conservation efforts, building on successful community-led models.
A core component of NN-TALD is the €5.5 million NN-Facility, an innovative fund that enables local stakeholders to implement their own Chiefdom Development and Land Use Plans. These funds will support environmental protection, sustainable agroecological practices, and deforestation-free value chains. The project also aims to invest in green economy initiatives such as renewable energy, water management, health, and education services, enhancing the quality of life and building trust in conservation efforts. WFP and the EU will work closely with the Government of Sierra Leone and local partners to ensure effective implementation and long-term impact across all targeted conservation areas.
