Youth Action for Relentless Development Organisation Sierra Leone (YARDO-SL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Covenant Communication and Consulting Limited to foster environmental awareness in Freetown. This partnership aims to educate communities about the importance of protecting watersheds and mitigating the effects of deforestation.

Freetown City was once known for its slushy and green vegetation. However, recent rampant deforestation has resulted in a massive loss of tree cover, mostly due to land grabbing caused by the expansion of human settlements. This has had a negative effect on watersheds and wetlands, causing human casualties. For example, in 2017, the Regent Landslide claimed over 1,000 lives and destroyed property worth millions of dollars.

To help mitigate the problem, YARDO-SL, through the Freetown Restoration Project (Freetown The Treetown III), with funding from the Global Development Network, has signed this MoU. Executive Director of YARDO-SL, Ahmid C Jalloh expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the urgent need to protect Freetown's watersheds, such as the Gassama Street Dam, which serves over 5,000 people.

CEO of Covenant Communication and Consulting Limited, Shuaib S Kamara, said, "We are thrilled to collaborate with YARDO-SL, an organisation dedicated to empowering young people and improving communities. We commend YARDO-SL's tremendous work in promoting sustainable development and environmental protection. We are excited to leverage our expertise to amplify their message and drive positive change."

This partnership is part of the Freetown Restoration Project, funded by the Global Development Network, and aims to address the devastating impact of deforestation and land grabbing in Freetown.