Freetown, Sierra Leone: On 11 February 2025 World Food Programme (WFP), with funding from the European Union, launched the latest report on the alarming deforestation in Western Area Peninsular National Park (WAPNP). Utilising satellite imagery the report reveals that 715 hectares of forest cover had been lost or severely degraded in 2024 alone, equivalent to 1,330football fields. Cumulatively, WAPNP has lost 5,600 hectares, orone-third of its total forest cover.
The analysis was made possible through the WFP’s ‘Asset Impact Monitoring (AIMS)’ service which was critical to the analysis. ‘AIMS’ uses remote sensing and GIS technology to monitor deforestation within the protected area of the park using satellite imagery, findings validated on the ground by the government, United Nations and civil society.
The WFP attributes much of the forest loss to fires, often initiatedby land grabbers clearing trees for housing construction. Thousands of structures have already been constructed within the park. In 2024, 220 fire hotspots were identified within the park.Additionally, numerous quarries have established within the Park’s boundaries since 2021, further contributing to the deforestation.
“The loss of primary forests not only jeopardizes the habitat of endangered species like the western chimpanzee (critically endangered), but also diminishes the ecosystem’s resilience to environmental stressors,” says Yvonne Forsen, WFP Representativeand Country Director.
The rampant deforestation within the park poses Freetown’s primary water source at risk. Trees are being felled close to the Guma Valley Dam, which supplies water to 90% of the capital’s population. As the forest cover disappears, increased silt and sedimentation enter the reservoir during the rainy season, making it difficult and more expensive to clean the water. These higher costsare passed on to already struggling consumers. Deforestation increases the risk of mudslides, and potential Guma dam failure, which would result in massive loss of life and the collapse of Freetown’s main water source.
WAPNP was classified as a national park in 2012. The government has also put it forward for UNESCO World Heritage status due toits beauty and biodiversity. The park’s forested hills once extended to pristine white sand beaches. As a national park, the area is a protected public land, making it illegal to build, quarry or farm within its boundaries.
However, during recent field inspections prompted by satellite imagery, joint teams from the United Nations, the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA), National Water Resources Management Agency (NWMA), National Disaster Management Agency and other partners discovered widespread illegal activity. Dozens of individuals were found clearing land and constructing buildings within the park, posing a serious threat to its delicate ecosystem and legal protections.
The team also uncovered evidence of deforestation, with large piles of felled wood destined for charcoal production. A drone deployed by a communications expert, even captured images of a marijuana farm operating within the protected area. Additionally, WFP identified unauthorized granite quarries inside WAPNP’s boundaries, underscoring the scale of illegal activities threatening the park’s fragile ecosystem.
The EU Chargé d’Affaires Gerald Hatler expressed deep concern over these findings, stating: “The alarming rate of deforestation poses a significant challenge to the country’s environmental sustainability and water security in Freetown. If such activities persist even near the capital, it raises serious concerns about the preservation of ecosystems nationwide. However, these troubling observations can serve as a catalyst for meaningful change. The government has demonstrated its commitment to addressing this issue in recent years, and with credible and reinforced measures, there is still an opportunity to reverse the trend and prevent the worst outcomes.”
This report marks the latest in a series of studies that WFP has undertaken to analyse deforestation within the park. WFP is grateful for the EU contributions that secures funding for subsequent reports. WFP warns that at the current rate of deforestation, the Park could lose two-thirds of its forest cover by 2035. The latest findings should represent a call to action, says Yvonne Forsen.
“We are now aware of the scale and speed of the problem, the risks and what is driving it. All that remains is for us to work together with the government to stop the park from disappearing altogether.”
