By: Josephine Nyeweah in Kenema district
Gola Rainforest Conservation Limited by Guarantee (GRCLG) aims to mitigate climate change, promote eco-tourism, and provide alternative livelihoods for communities in its operational areas.
GRCLG operates in Barri and Makpele chiefdoms in the Pujehun district in the Southern Province.
Malema chiefdom in Kailahun district; Nomo, Koya, Tunkia, and Gaura chiefdoms in Kenema district in the Eastern Province
The management of GRCLG has, on Friday, September 22, 2023, started dishing out GRCLG Land Owners Royalty Payment to 243 land owners in the seven chiefdoms of the National Park, with 8,000 USD per chiefdom to a total of 56,000 USD, equivalent to 1,176,000 New Leones.
At Joru town, Gaura chiefdom, Kenema district, each land owner received 4,839.51 New Leones.
Addressing beneficiaries at Joru Court Bari, Head of Gola Rainforest Conservation Limited by Guarantee (GRC-LG) program, Fomba Amara Kanneh called on all and sundry to continue protecting their forests at all costs by not allowing illegal activities in the national park.
He further stated that the more the community protects their forests, the more benefits will continue to come to their communities.
He appealed to them to continue living as a family thereby enjoying the natural gifts given to their community.
The Community Development Superintendent of GRC-LG, Amadu Jusu, told his audience that GRC-LG will continue to make the 2023 royalty payment to all categories of beneficiaries of the national park.
Among them are the District Forest Office, Provincial Secretary Offices in the South and Eastern Provinces, and District Councils, among others.
The Acting Country Manager of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Jenna Barker, assured her audience of her continued support for GRC-LG programs in conserving the National Park.
She called on them to strictly maintain their own side of the agreement in protecting the forest.
The Regent Chief of Gaura Chiefdom, Moses Lusani, assured the GRCLG of the community corporation of protecting the forest.
