In a bid to improve water supply in Freetown, Guma Valley Water Company in collaboration with Fourah Bay College Administration and QATAR Foundation, a community based organization at Leicester Road, has on Saturday June 13, 2020 concluded a two-day tree planting exercise at the deforested area of White-water weir located at Botanical garden, Fourah Bay College in Freetown.
White-water weir is a Guma Valley water processing facility which serves Leicester Road, upper Mountain Cut, Adams Street, Will Street by Kissy Road and Berry Street, but its surrounding area had been deforested. Five to six years ago, the Botanical garden was a forested area, but the forest cover has been deforested to make way for gardening and charcoal mining, thereby negatively impacting the quantity of water supplied from the water supply facility. The trees planted during the two-day tree planting exercise fall into three categories: economy trees, herbal trees and forest trees.
It could be recalled that Guma recently engaged the farmers on the impact of tree planting, but the farmers complained that most of the trees had been destroyed by people who go to the area to catch crabs.
The Production Manager of Guma Valley Water Company, Ing. Mohamed Ibrahim Koroma, said that over the years raw water Bambara Spring has dwindled due to deforestation thereby affecting the operations of the Company. “One thing that is key in the supply of water is the forest. As you see in this Botanical Garden, a lot of trees have been cut down and it is now affecting our operations. So, for us to get what we need to supply this water to Freetown, we need this forest to be reforested,” he emphasized.
Koroma further said that they had received a proposal from a community-based organization called Qualified Academical Talent Achieved Rightfully (QATAR) foundation for the planting of trees in the area, and they funded it because they wanted the area to regain it lost serenity. He added that the seedlings were nursed by members of the Foundation, but the College, through the Estate Department, provided over 23 staff who assisted in planting the trees.
He said the trees would provide shade and fruits in the future, and would ultimately improve the water level and supply of water to the communities.
Chairman of QATAR foundation, Mohamed Sankoh, assured Guma and the College authorities that they would secure the trees. “The QATAR Foundation is going to be the security for these trees because we are going be visiting here regularly,” he promised. He also called on the farmers to report to the Foundation whenever they see people destroying the trees.
The Estate Officer at FBC, Wilfred Momoh, said that deforesting that area has become a norm for people, adding that people believe in cutting down trees without replacing them. He stated that the farmers should report to the Estate department whenever they see someone destroying the trees, adding that they will take the appropriate action against anybody who destroys the trees. He assured Guma that the College would monitor the seedlings until they become full grown trees.
Estate Clerk of FBC, Henry Bobson James called on the farmers to be security for the trees. “If you see anybody removing the trees, please report to the College authorities so as to free yourselves from any blame,” he said.
By Stephen V. Lansana
16/6/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7846