Gola Rainforest Protection
- Technology: Forestry and Land Use
- Region: Africa
The Gola Rainforest National Park in south-east Sierra Leone is one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots. The Gola REDD project is working with local communities and other key stakeholders to manage the park’s forests sustainably through a focus on land use planning, agroforestry, education, health and sustainable agriculture – helping rebuild lives following over a decade of war and the worst ever Ebola outbreak.
Already training and support in sustainable cocoa production has opened up routes to the Western markets. To date 168 staff are employed and 122 communities supported. 140,000 hectares are being managed (70,000 hectares of the park itself and a 70,000-hectare buffer zone). Protecting habitat for 327 bird species, 650 endemic plant species, and 49 species of larger mammals, including the elusive Pygmy Hippo and the Western Chimpanzee. The project will reduce 5 million tonnes CO2e emissions by the end of 2021.
ClimateCare has partnered with Gola Rainforest Conservation LG (an equal partnership between the Government of Sierra Leone, the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Gola Communities). They are working together to help keep Gola’s trees standing – for its wildlife, the rural communities that depend on it, and the planet.
- Protecting critically endangered western chimpanzee and pygmy hippo
- Reintroducing lost skills in sustainable cocoa production
- Rebuilding communities after civil war and the Ebola outbreak
Case study
Mariama is 36 years old and has a daughter who is 15 years old. Her husband died in 1999 during the civil war and she and her younger sister care for their elderly father.
Mariama is a high-school graduate and has completed a post-graduate course in computing. She wanted to earn money and was attracted to the role of Forest Guard by the nature of the work in the National Park.
Of the 116 that began field ranger training with her, Mariama was one of only 25 selected as Forest Guards.
Download factsheet on Gola rainforest protection project
Gola Rainforest Protection project factsheet
PDF, 2.7MB
Download122 Communities supported
140,000 Hectares protected
700 Annual secondary school scholarships given
What the carbon finance delivers
Carbon finance, through direct loyalty payments, incentivises local communities to conserve the forest’s natural resources and allows them to develop skills and generate income, protecting this unique environment and helping lift families out of poverty, following its years of conflict and the Ebola outbreak.
The carbon finance helped enable the designation of the area as a National Park in 2011, and ensures effective management through transparency and local involvement in conservation activities. It aims to foster a sense of stewardship for the forest in the surrounding local communities.
Delivering Towards the Global Goals
No Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Good Health and Well-Being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Life Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
Life On Land
Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
Supporting Climate+Care projects delivers on multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You can read more on the Goals below.
Learn more about the global goals
