ABOUT US

ENFORAC formed in 2004 in response to the urgent need for stronger action to protect and advocate for Sierra Leone’s natural resources. We are a consortium of environmental non-governmental organizations, community groups and academic institutions who have come together as a united voice to maximize our influence on policy, management and behavioural change for a healthy environment.

ENFORAC to supports and coordinates its members’ direct implementation of environmental activities in Sierra Leone. The forum allows member organizations as well as guests to meet, discuss and exchange information, network and avoid duplication of efforts.

ENFORAC also supports its members by building the capacity of each organization through skills trainings and cooperative ventures. The Forum is guided by a constitution, and meetings are held bi-monthly.

Since its formation in 2004, ENFORAC has:

• executed a national conference on sustainable environmental management in October 2004 in which national priorities were agreed by civil society and government stakeholders in Sierra Leone;

• hosted an international workshop which brought together over 50 people from 17 countries to assess a $6.2 million investment in biodiversity conservation in West Africa; and

• organized several events, debates, and peaceful marches to celebrate occasions such as World Environment Day and Wildlife Week.

• Drawn attention to the importance of dry land ecosystems in areas at risk of destruction from bush fires in Sierra Leone through an environmental awareness raising campaign funded by IUCN NL.

Looking towards the future, ENFORAC advocates for:

• Natural resource management;

• Policy reforms and enforcement;

• Land use planning;

• Water catchments management;

• Biodiversity management research;

• Sustainable development;

• Mass environmental education and information campaigns.

History of ENFORAC

In 1996, the Environmental Foundation for Africa (EFA), the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), and a few interested individuals, were working on a national, program for environmental activism. This work was interrupted following the coup, d’etat in 1997 when the main parties left the country.

ENFORAC formed in response to the urgent need for stronger action to protect and advocate for Sierra Leone’s natural resources. Since then ENFORAC has been a key, national player on environmental issues, undertaking a number of high, profile events.

Tommy Garnett, Director of Regional Programmes for EFA served as the chairperson of ENFORAC from October 2005. This year (2010) a new chairperson will be elected. EFA has chaired the Environmental Forum for Action since 2005 and ENFORAC’s success has recently allowed them to move into their own independent offices on Dundas Street in Freetown.