Goldtree approaches communities, family farmers and our people with a sense of accountability and applies that responsibility to everyday practices.
Prior to operations starting, an environmental and social impact assessment was carried out. An Goldtree Environmental and Social Management Plan was developed through this study, which includes a community development action plan. These plans guide management on developmental, environmental and social aspects of Goldtree’s operations.
Food Fund 2020 Impact Case Study – Goldtree, Phatisa, October 2020
Governance and transparency
Goldtree recognises its responsibilities to workers, communities and farming families and believes that to transform agriculture in Sierra Leone, management must be accountable and transparent. Goldtree has the potential to have a profound effect on the wellbeing and wealth of the rural families in our part of Sierra Leone.
To achieve this, Goldtree has pledged to:
i. Creating self-sufficiency in rural agriculture
When Africa is freed from its dependence on imported food, the benefits to every individual will be immense.
ii. Leading the way in environmental management
The focus of our work with the thousands of farming families gives us an important responsibility – and opportunity – to showcase responsible environmental management across our and our family farmers’ work.
iii. Zero deforestation. Goldtree will guard all primary rainforest or any land that has a high conservation value and will advise our family farmers how to achieve the same.
iv. Goldtree will not farm nor support communities to expand to greenfield lands. Rather, we support using improved organic practices and seedlings to increase productivity of existing agroforestry.
v. Goldtree will support areas for wildlife reserves integrated into the design of our work, discouraging bush meat hunting by guiding communities towards sustainable farm animal husbandry for protein sources.
vi. Water quality is protected and recognised as integral to the health of the wider environment.