Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, expressed her profound respect and admiration for local community teams involved in the ambitious #FreetownTheTreeTown initiative.

Accompanied by Councillor Sheku Deen Mansaray, the Mayor visited the Ojuku community today, where dedicated groups of women and youth have successfully planted an impressive 80,740 mangroves over the past 12 days.

The planting process is no small feat; it requires community members to wade into the swamps at low tide to secure the delicate seedlings.

To ensure their survival, the seedlings are tied to wooden stakes, preventing them from being washed away by rising tides. Each mangrove seedling is meticulously tagged with a unique identification code, allowing for effective tracking through the #FreetownTheTreeTown digital platform.

This mangrove planting initiative is part of a larger project funded by the World Bank and implemented in collaboration with the National Commission for Social Action (NACSA) under the Promoting Sustainable Natural Resource Management for Youth Employment (PSSNYE) program.

The goal is to plant and track a total of 275,000 mangroves across three communities, with the added benefit of creating 1,750 jobs for local residents.Mayor Aki-Sawyerr praised the commitment and hard work of the community members, emphasizing the vital role that mangroves play in enhancing the resilience of Freetown’s coastal ecosystems.

“This initiative not only contributes to environmental sustainability but also empowers our communities through job creation and active participation in conservation efforts,” she stated.

As the #FreetownTheTreeTown initiative gains momentum, it highlights the collective efforts of Freetown’s residents in combating climate change while fostering a sense of community and responsibility towards the environment.

The Mayor’s visit underscores the importance of community involvement in sustainable development and environmental stewardship in the city.