By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma
The National Protected Areas Authority (NPAA) has launched a 30-day intensive enforcement operation aimed at curbing illegal charcoal burning and other environmentally destructive activities within Sierra Leone’s protected areas, with particular focus on the Western Area Peninsula National Park (WAPNP).
The operation, which commenced on Monday, 26 January 2026, is part of a broader national effort to stem the rapid degradation of forest reserves and protect critical ecosystems that support livelihoods, biodiversity, and water security for Freetown and its surrounding communities.
During an early phase of the operation, NPAA enforcement teams conducting patrols at Comfort Bridge, behind the Chinese Quarry, uncovered several active charcoal processing sites located deep within the legally protected boundaries of the park. The discovery led to the arrest of eight suspects and the seizure of more than fifty bags of charcoal, believed to have been produced from illegally felled forest trees.
According to the NPAA, the suspects were handed over to the Sierra Leone Police and are currently being held at the Lumley Police Station, where investigations are ongoing. The Authority confirmed that the matter will be pursued through the full extent of the law.
In a statement accompanying the operation, the NPAA made it clear that charcoal burning and related activities within protected areas constitute criminal offences under Sierra Leonean law. The Authority warned that such violations will be met with zero tolerance, including arrest, seizure of all equipment and exhibits, eviction where necessary, and prosecution without exception.
“All protected areas are legally gazette and safeguarded under national law. Any form of unauthorized activity—whether encroachment, settlement, farming, logging, charcoal burning, mining, or construction—constitutes a serious violation and will attract immediate enforcement action,” the statement said.
The NPAA further disclosed that field operations will continue daily throughout the 30-day enforcement period, with intensified surveillance across protected areas nationwide. Officials say the campaign is not a one-off exercise, but part of a sustained strategy to deter illegal exploitation of forest and wildlife resources.
Speaking of the crackdown, the Executive Director of the NPAA, Sheikh Ahmed Tunis, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to protecting Sierra Leone’s natural heritage. He cautioned individuals and groups engaged in illegal activities within protected areas to desist immediately or face the full force of the law.
“The Western Area Peninsula National Park is not just a forest reserve; it is a lifeline for the people of Freetown,” Tunis said. “It provides vital watershed services, regulates climate, and supports biodiversity. Any activity that threatens its integrity is a direct threat to national development and public well-being.’’
The Western Area Peninsula National Park plays a crucial role in supplying water to the capital city and serves as a habitat for a wide range of plant and animal species, some of which are endemic and threatened. Environmental experts have long warned that unchecked deforestation, charcoal burning, and encroachment could severely compromise the park’s ecological functions, increasing the risk of flooding, landslides, and water shortages.
In a separate official warning issued on Tuesday, the NPAA reiterated that it has intensified surveillance and enforcement operations nationwide and that no illegal activity within protected areas or their buffer zones will be tolerated, “regardless of status or influence.”
The Authority called on the public to cooperate fully by ceasing all forms of encroachment and complying with environmental and conservation laws. It also encouraged communities to report illegal activities to the relevant authorities, emphasizing that protecting the country’s natural assets is a collective responsibility.
As the 30-day operation unfolds, observers say the success of the crackdown will depend not only on enforcement, but also on sustained political will, public awareness, and the provision of alternative livelihoods for those who depend on charcoal production for survival.
For now, the NPAA insists its message is clear: Sierra Leone’s protected areas are off-limits to illegal exploitation and safeguarding them is non-negotiable.
