The state of Sierra Leone’s natural environment

Global environmental decline and rapid depletion of the planet’s natural resources is universally evident. The state of Sierra Leone’s natural environment is increasingly fragile and is faced with massive, and in some cases, irreversible environmental degradation and habitat and species loss. The causes of this decline range from extreme poverty to unsustainable production and consumption patterns; to poor governance and inadequate policy and institutional responses to meet the environmental challenges faced by current and future generations.

Environmental management and sustainable development

Defence for Environment and Sustainable Development (DESD) is an environmental management and sustainable development  institution that offers a platform to bring together the diverse and multi-sectoral skills and expertise under the umbrella of environmental development and protection through responsive environmental governance. The environmental crisis is not an inevitable path. Sustainable Development is possible if based on sound policies and carefully crafted laws to intervene effectively at strategic points to change public policy economic signals and entrenched behavior and advance towards a brighter future.

Environmental protection and sustainable development

DESD is born out of the desire to contribute immensely to environmental protection and  sustainable development in Sierra Leone in the collective use of our resources, expertise and experience in the fields of environmental development and management and other related fields. We believe that Sierra Leone in post war development transition can only attain appreciable sustainable development, eradicate poverty and environmental security when we utilize our natural resources and manage our environment in a sustainable manner.

Responsive environmental governance

We also believe that responsive environmental governance through the formulation, implementation and enforcement of sound and innovative environmental laws, policies and regulations is the link that intricately joins together environmental protection and sustainable development. DESD therefore hopes to work with all stakeholders to bring about tangible environmental improvement and positive movement towards the ultimate goal of sustainable development of Sierra Leone. We believe that this can only be actualized and achieved through collective and systematic revolutionalised approach of responsive environmental governance.

Motto

“My Environment, my Life”

Vision

DESD envisions a sustainably developed Sierra Leone through responsive environmental governance.

Mission

To actively engage all stakeholders in solving environemntal issues and contributing to sustainable development  through sound and innovative policies and laws. We seek to articulate, advocate and contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development in a range of sectors in Sierra Leone. Our core team brings together superior technical skills in Environmental Law, Sociology, Economics, Finance, Engineering, Public Health, Education and Management under a common umbrella.

Objectives

Overall objective:
Promote environment protection and sustainable development, through strengthened and responsive environmental governance.

Specific objectives:

- Support the formulation, implementation and enforcement of environmental policies, laws and regulation in Sierra Leone
- Promote the availability and dissemination of reliable environmental information to all stakeholders.
- Promote stakeholder awareness and involvement in environmental issues.
- Promote environmental assessments and development to avoid unintentional negative impacts in other sectors.
- Implement activities geared toward environmental development and protection

Guiding principles

The principles of environmental governance and sustainable development are our guiding principles:
- Embeds the environment in all levels of decision-making and action.
- Conceptualizes cities and communities, economic and political life as a subset of the environment.
- Emphasizes the connection of people to the ecosystems in which they live.
- Promotes the transition from linear systems to circular systems.