By Sallieu S. Kanu
Lake Sonfon, Sierra Leone’s largest inland lake, is under threat from illicit mining for gold and has been assessed as an IBA in Danger, according to the BirdLife International.
BirdLife International defines IBAs as places of international significance for the conservation of birds and other biodiversity; and sites that together form part of a wider integrated approach to the conservation and sustainable use of the natural environment.
Lake Sonfon is found in the Diang Chiefdom, Koinadugu District, Northern Province, about 350 km north-east of Freetown.
A total of 115 species of birds were recorded at the lake.
To save the lake from devastation caused by illicit mining, the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) put a halt to mining activities recently around the lake.
This came following a raid by NPAA which was led by the Executive Director of the NPAA, Mr. Thomas Fayia Kamara, along with his deputy Mr. Dwight Sheriff, accompanied by security forces on the Lake Sonfon mining area in Diang Chiefdom.
The purpose of the operation was to put a stop halt to illegal mining activities in the vicinity of the leak, a national protected area.
The NPAA is responsible for safeguarding all ecosystem areas under its jurisdiction. The decision to visit Lake Sonfon was prompted by the fact that the area holds special significance to President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, who has a deep passion for the environment.
The mining activities were deemed detrimental to the environment and needed to be halted immediately.
As a result of the intervention by the NPAA, all mining operations around the Lake have been halted.
This decisive action was taken to protect the lake and preserve the biodiversity of the area, in line with the President’s commitment to environmental conservation.
Lake Sonfon is a mountainous lake, 850m asl. It is surrounded by hills with vegetation comprising open grassland, wooded savanna and fringing forest with occasional farm bush. A number of small streams empty into the lake. Water level in the lake rises considerably during the rainy season inundating a much larger area. Annual rainfall in the area ranges from 2286 mm to 2540 mm. Mean diurnal temperatures range from 15-33 0C and 20-27 0C during the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Relative humidity at 1500h varies from 40% to 70% annually.
The area holds a good variety of mammal species including the threatened Savanna Buffalo (NT).