Musa Kanneh and William Karim's efforts in environmental restoration have profound impacts, as evidenced by their participation in the GEF Mano Project. This initiative revitalizes degraded lands and promotes sustainable agroforestry practices, improving community well-being and ecosystem health.
In Babakor, a village in Kenema district, in Sierra Leone, Musa Kanneh transformed about 2 hectares of formerly degraded land. Since 2022, with the support of WHH which acted as an implementing actor for this project, Musa has planted a diverse range of 2,400 varieties of seeds, carefully following best practices in forest restoration and agriculture. Its efforts revitalize the land and enrich biodiversity, supporting the environment and the local economy. As Musa says:
Restoring the earth is restoring our future. Every tree I plant is a step toward a healthier environment and a more prosperous community.
Musa's devotion extends beyond simply planting seeds; it established its nurseries, improving its ability to support ongoing reforestation efforts. This initiative benefits the local ecosystem and provides Musa and its community with tangible social and economic benefits by increasing land productivity and sustainability.
William Karim, from Goubu, another village in Kenema district, has expanded his agroforestry land to more than six hectares. His journey began with the training and support received in 2019/2020, which empowered him to effectively apply the sustainable practices learned. The expansion of his land led to significant improvements in his family's livelihood, allowing him to afford school supplies and support his family with the income generated from this land.
William says,
“Every hectare that we cultivate sustainably guarantees the future of our children and our community"
William's success highlights the potential of agroforestry not only to combat environmental degradation but also to strengthen local economies. His work helps improve water quality, increase timber supplies, and create employment opportunities, demonstrating the holistic benefits of environmental restoration.
Musa and William's stories demonstrate the effectiveness of the project in imparting practical skills to community members. These skills allow them to restore their land and obtain economic benefits. The project highlights the interconnected nature of environmental health and community well-being, proving that sustainable land management practices can yield substantial returns in conservation and economic gains for local communities.
These initiatives convert degraded lands into thriving agroforestry plots, improving ecological conditions while providing economic stability to the families involved. This approach addresses immediate environmental challenges and establishes a basis for sustainable growth and development in the region.
About the project
The Mano River Union Ecosystem Conservation and International Water Resources Management (IWRM) Project covers four countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The total area of the territory covered by the MRU is 751 450 km², distributed as follows: 71 740 km² for Sierra Leone, 111 370 km² for Liberia, 245 857 km² for Guinea and 322 462 km² for Côte d’Ivoire.
The project is implemented in the Upper Guinea forest covering Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire to strengthen the management of transboundary natural resources for sustained ecological benefits and improved livelihoods for the forest adjacent communities. The project will play a transformational role in the livelihoods of the communities living in the forest area covered by the project, enabling them to benefit from the ecosystem while not threatening it.
For more information on the project, please contact the Regional Coordinator, Abdoulaye Doumbia [adoumbia@mru.int, doumbia1959@gmail.com], and visit the decidate page on iwlearn.net or the project website.
© 2026 IW:LEARN
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