The Gbujan Agricultural Development Organization (GbADO), based in Futa Pejeh village, Pejeh Chiefdom, Pujehun District, has been heralding a transformative initiative. Their one-year economic tree planting project, which took root from January 1st, 2023, to December 31st, 2023, with the generous backing of the UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme, has begun to bear fruit in the communities it serves.
The project, meticulously crafted and presented to the GEF Small Grants Programme in October 2022, aimed to confront the daunting challenges imposed by climate change upon the two Chiefdoms. The strategic approach involved planting economic trees within school environments and other identified deforested areas across the communities. Despite its projected three-year total cost of $75,000, the project took its first leap with a $20,000 grant from the UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme, endorsed in November 2022. This initial funding included a grant of $20,000 from the UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme, supplemented by a $5,000 contribution from the community, manifested through the provision of land, labor, and local materials.
Mr. Ayuba Koroma, the Project Manager, elucidated the rationale behind selecting the two Chiefdoms. These neighboring chiefdoms, characterized by shared challenges and values, stand as among the most impoverished in Sierra Leone. With over 70% of the population engaged in agriculture, and a significant portion being youths under 30, the need for sustainable farming practices is paramount. Moreover, the predominantly agricultural communities have grappled with detrimental practices such as bush burning, deforestation, and excessive fertilizer use, exacerbating ecological degradation and diminishing arable land. The lingering five-year leadership conflict in Pejeh, bordering Kpangaa Chiefdom, further exacerbated poverty and underscored the urgency for intervention.
The implementation of the project saw the nurturing and planting of 5,000 viable tree seedlings across a sprawling 25,000 hectares of land, spanning five project sites: Futa, Massa, Gbongay, Bumbeh, and Bengi. Notably, economic tree species including oil palm, mango, orange, and coconut were strategically planted around school premises in the respective villages, aiming to not only combat climate change but also provide sustainable sources of income for the communities in the long term.
The impact of the GbADO Economic Tree Planting Project extends far beyond environmental conservation. By fostering climate change education, promoting climate-smart agricultural techniques, and facilitating adaptation and mitigation strategies, this initiative stands as a beacon of sustainable development for the Pejeh and Kpangaa Chiefdoms, offering a tangible pathway towards resilience and prosperity for generations to come.
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