Tree Planting for Climate Resilience in Freetown, Sierra Leone
An economic valuation of the "Freetown the Treetown" initiative
This assessment presents the economic valuation of the new phase of the successful "Freetown the Treetown" initiative that aims to plant, digitally track, and grow millions of trees to address challenges of deforestation and climate change. The climate adaptation efforts can lead to significant economic, social, and environmental benefits in Freetown, including reduction in infrastructure damages and loss of life from natural hazards such as flooding and landslides, as well as diminished carbon dioxide emissions and extreme heat.
Situated on a densely forested and mountainous peninsula in the Atlantic Ocean, Freetown, the dynamic capital of Sierra Leone, is home to approximately 1.5 million people. The city is experiencing rapid population growth and urbanization, resulting in the loss of half a million trees each year. This urban deforestation, coupled with the impacts of climate change, is placing Freetown's urban communities at increased risk from floods, landslides, coastal erosion, and extreme heat.
To reforest the city, the Freetown City Council, with the support of international partners including the World Bank, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the Global Environmental Facility, has developed the successful "Freetown the Treetown" initiative, which focuses on planting, digitally tracking, and growing 1 million trees in the city. Looking to scale this initiative further to address the escalating challenges of deforestation and climate change, this Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment evaluates the new phase of the initiative. The new phase aims to restore mangrove forests, protect the city's water supply, restore the Western Area Peninsula Forest, and continue to reduce damages from natural hazards and extreme heat in Freetown.
Two scenarios will be assessed as part of this SAVi assessment:
- NBI scenario 1, consisting of planting 3.7 million trees by 2050
- NBI scenario 2, consisting of planting 5 million trees by 2050.
The assessment highlights the societal value of urban reforestation and land restoration, demonstrating that the project can play a critical role in supporting Freetown's climate adaptation strategies. These efforts will enhance water retention, mitigate infrastructure damage, reduce loss of life from natural hazards such as flooding and landslides, and decrease carbon dioxide emissions and extreme heat.
The implementation of the proposed nature-based infrastructure (NBI) project in Freetown is projected to deliver significant net benefits. By 2050, the total cumulative, net discounted benefit (at a 4% discount rate) of implementing NBI Scenario 1 is USD 21.68 million, while NBI Scenario 2 would generate USD 26.45 million. The greatest positive impacts of the project include the avoided damage to infrastructure from floods, landslides, coastal erosion, and sea level rise, followed by employment and income generation, as well as the prevention of loss of life from flooding and landslides. For every USD 1 invested in this project, the societal return is USD 2.94 for NBI Scenario 1 and USD 2.79 for NBI Scenario 2. When accounting for discounted values, the returns are USD 2.14 and USD 2.04, respectively. These benefits are expected to grow as the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increase, making tree planting an attractive climate adaptation strategy under future climate scenarios.
The assessment also includes a financial analysis that aims to ensure long-term financial sustainability of the project. The financial analysis identifies potential financing options that could support the Freetown the Treetown initiative to become financially viable, contributing to Freetown's climate resilience efforts.
Participating experts
You might also be interested in
How Can We Work With Nature to Tackle Drought and Desertification?
Drought is one of the most devastating and pervasive challenges exacerbated by climate change. However, we can work to reduce its effects through nature-based solutions for land restoration and climate-smart agriculture.
IISD Annual Report 2022–2023
At IISD, we’ve been working for more than three decades to create a world where people and the planet thrive. As the climate crisis unfolds on our doorsteps and irreversible tipping points loom, our team has been focused more than ever on impact.
The 'spongy' cities of the future
Tangled mats of muddy vegetation line the footpaths of Underwood Park, a narrow stripe of green winding along a creek beneath the small volcanic cone of Ōwairaka (Mt Albert) in Auckland, New Zealand. In the water, clumps of sticks and the occasional plastic bag are marooned on protruding rocks and branches.
Investing in natural infrastructure for a shared future for all life
The Living Bridge of Meghalaya documents the story of the indigenous Khasi people who trained the living aerial roots of the Indian rubber fig tree to serve as bridges. These living root bridges crisscross rivers that swell in violent monsoons, which would likely wash away any other form of bridge. They have provided reliable and safe passage to local populations for hundreds of years and are a stunning example of natural infrastructure.