Sierra Leone Launches First National Carbon Industry Platform
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Freetown, Sierra Leone – June 19, 2025
High-level government officials, ambassadors, donors, development partners, and private sector leaders convened at the British High Commission in Freetown to mark the official launch of the Association of Carbon Conservation and Reforestation (ACCR)—Sierra Leone’s first industry platform dedicated to accelerating growth in the carbon credit sector and advancing climate action through public-private collaboration.
The launch event, hosted by British High Commissioner Madam Josephine Gauld LVO on Thursday, June 19, 2025, celebrated the formation of a national body uniting key stakeholders in Sierra Leone’s rapidly growing carbon market. As global momentum increases around market-based climate solutions, Sierra Leone is positioning itself as a rising hub for climate finance and carbon conservation.
About ACCR
The Association of Carbon Conservation and Reforestation (ACCR) is a trade body representing the six largest private sector carbon developers in Sierra Leone: West Africa Blue, Rainforest Builder, Rewilding, Freetown the Treetown, Del Agua, and Gola Rainforest.
The association was initially convened by Invest Salone, a UK Government-funded program, following a request from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. ACCR members are actively engaged in projects that restore natural ecosystems and enhance community livelihoods through sustainable carbon finance mechanisms.
Event Highlights
British High Commissioner Madam Josephine Gauld LVO
In her keynote address, Madam Gauld underscored Sierra Leone’s significant potential in the global carbon market, noting that the country ranks among the top 20 globally for carbon stock and growth prospects.
“This is a very exciting sector that can create a new revenue stream for the Government. There’s enormous potential for market growth, environmental protection, and long-term sustainability,” she said.
“The UK is proud to support Sierra Leone in unlocking these opportunities through strong public-private partnerships.”
She further praised Invest Salone’s role in convening stakeholders and catalyzing investment in the carbon space.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Jiwoh Abdulai
Minister Abdulai welcomed ACCR’s creation and emphasized the government’s support for an inclusive, well-regulated carbon economy:
“This association has the potential to significantly shape the sector. As a government, we want the private sector organized, so that they can contribute meaningfully to the legal and policy frameworks we are developing.”
He called for transparent, trustworthy partnerships to unlock Sierra Leone’s natural capital and build international confidence in the country’s carbon efforts.
Ben Hampson, Chairman of ACCR & Business Development Director, Rainforest Builder
Speaking on behalf of ACCR, Mr. Hampson positioned the association as the unified voice of the private sector in shaping Sierra Leone’s carbon finance future.
“Our members attract climate finance from some of the world’s largest corporations, channeling it into rural communities to restore forests, protect biodiversity, and empower livelihoods,” he said.
“This is more than a launch of an association—it’s the beginning of a transformative green industry.”
He shared key impact figures:
- 4,500+ jobs created
- 4.5 million trees planted
- Tens of thousands of hectares of forest and mangrove protected
- 250,000 clean cookstoves distributed
With a national Carbon Market Framework on the horizon, Hampson projected that these achievements could double or triple within the next 2–5 years.
The Power of Collaboration
ACCR’s model is built on collaboration, aiming to enhance:
- Efficiency – avoiding duplication and maximizing collective impact
- Specialization & Inclusivity – leveraging diverse strengths and perspectives
- Innovation – sharing best practices and fostering new approaches
- Scale – enabling larger, integrated landscape projects
- Community Engagement – fostering local ownership and sustainability
- Partnership Building – attracting resources, skills, and international alliances
- Long-term Continuity – ensuring that projects deliver enduring benefits
As ACCR deepens its engagement with government and development partners, it is calling for the urgent creation of a national carbon framework—developed in collaboration with communities, investors, and regulators—to ensure effective oversight, investor confidence, and equitable benefit-sharing.
The event concluded with a vibrant networking session, reinforcing a shared commitment to building a greener, more prosperous Sierra Leone through sustainable carbon conservation.
