TTHHEE RREEPPUUBBLLIICC OOFF SSIIEERRRRAA LLEEOONNEE Public Disclosure Authorized SIERRA LEONE WETLANDS CONSERVATION PROJECT OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FOOD SECURITY (MAFFS) Public Disclosure Authorized Revised Draft Public Disclosure Authorized ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK (ESMF) Prepared By: Dyson T. Jumpah [email protected] Public Disclosure Authorized 7TH FLOOR, TRUST TOWERS FARRAR AVENUE, ADABRAKA ACCRA, GHANA. February 2011 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................... VI 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 3 2.0 OVERALL APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................ 5 2.1 APPROACH ................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................ 6 3.0 OBJECTIVES OF THE ESMF ....................................................................................................................... 7 4.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT .................................................................................................... 8 4.1 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE .................................................................................................................. 8 4.2 PROJECT COMPONENTS .................................................................................................................................. 8 4.3 PROJECT LOCATION ....................................................................................................................................... 9 4.3.1 Sierra Leone River Estuary .............................................................................................................. 9 4.3.2 Mamunta Mayosso Complex ........................................................................................................ 10 5.0 BASELINE OF PROPOSED WETLANDS CONSERVATION AREAS ............................................................... 11 5.1 SIERRA LEONE RIVER ESTUARY ....................................................................................................................... 11 5.1.1 Historical ....................................................................................................................................... 11 5.1.2 Geographical ................................................................................................................................. 11 5.1.3 Biological Diversity in the Sierra Leone River Estuary ................................................................ 13 5.1.4 Socio-Economic and Demographic Characteristics ...................................................................... 15 5.1.5 Environmental and Ecological Issues ............................................................................................ 23 5.2 MAMUNTA MAYAWSO COMPLEX ................................................................................................................... 25 5.2.1 Important Customary and traditional rites related to M-MWR .................................................... 26 5.2.2 Historical ....................................................................................................................................... 27 5.2.3 Geographical ................................................................................................................................. 28 5.2.4 Environmental and Ecological ....................................................................................................... 31 5.2.5 Socio-Cultural and Demographic .................................................................................................. 32 5.2.6 Equity and Gender Issues .............................................................................................................. 32 6.0 DESCRIPTION OF WORLD BANK ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARD POICIES AND TRIGGERS . 34 6.1 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (OP4.01, BP 4.01) ......................................................................................... 35 6.2 NATURAL HABITATS (OP 4.04, BP 4.04) ........................................................................................................ 35 6.3 INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT (OP/BP 4.12) .................................................................................................. 36 6.4 FORESTS (OP/BP4.36) ................................................................................................................................ 36 7.0 DESCRIPTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE, POLICY, LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ............... 38 7.1 THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE FOR GOVERNANCE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND WETLANDS CONSERVATION ................... 38 7.2 POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT ................................................................... 38 7.3 FORESTRY POLICY-DRAFT 2010 ...................................................................................................................... 39 7.3.1 National Policy and Institutional Frameworks for Natural Resource Management ..................... 40 7.4 CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE POLICY-DRAFT 2010 ........................................................................................... 41 7.5 THE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR WETLANDS MANAGEMENT .................................................. 42 7.5.1 Institutional Responsibilities and Capacities ................................................................................. 43 7.6 THE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT .......................................... 43 7.7 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ...................................................................................................................... 43 8.0 CONSULTATION .................................................................................................................................... 45 8.1 CONSULTATION STRATEGY ............................................................................................................................ 45 8.1.1 Objectives of Consultation ............................................................................................................ 45 8.1.2 Stakeholders Consulted ................................................................................................................. 45 8.2 CONSULTATION IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS ESMF ......................................................................................... 46 i 8.2.1 Socio-cultural background of groups of persons living adjacent to the Mamunta-Mayoso wetlands and conservation areas ................................................................................................. 47 8.2.2 Customary and traditional rites related to wetlands and natural resources ................................ 47 8.2.3 Equity and gender issues............................................................................................................... 48 8.2.4 Land acquisition issues and /or restriction of access to natural resources ................................... 49 8.2.5 Sustainable alternative livelihood options and community-based activities that the local populations might be interested to pursue ................................................................................... 50 8.2.6 Important roles of the traditional authorities ............................................................................... 50 8.2.7 Social Issues of concern ................................................................................................................. 50 8.2.8 Owners of the natural resources ................................................................................................... 51 8.2.9 Mechanisms to be set up in the project to disseminate information to channel any grievances of the community members .............................................................................................................. 51 8.2.10 Constraints and opportunities for participation in the project activities ................................. 51 8.2.11 The short and long term risks that different stakeholder groups are likely to face because of the project intervention............................................................................................................ 52 8.2.12 The threats to the success of the proposed project intervention. ............................................ 52 8.2.13 Socio-cultural background of groups of persons living adjacent to the Sierra Leone River Estuary 53 8.2.14 Equity and gender issues regarding access to natural resources, utilisation and sharing of benefits from natural resources ............................................................................................... 54 8.2.15 Sustainable alternative livelihood options and community-based activities that the local populations might be interested to pursue .............................................................................. 54 8.2.16 Social Issues of concern ...........................................................................................................