Assessment of Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Timber Harvesting in Sierra Leone; Empirical Evidence from a Time Series Data

• DOI: 10.20944/preprints202410.1605.v1
• Publication Date: 2024-10-22T00:24:58Z
• Authors: Sheku Kemzo Mansaray; Petra Hlaváčková; Iva Živělová; Samuel Antwi Darkwah; Jitka Fialova; Jiří Schneider
• Keywords: Environmental data; Empirical evidence

This study assesses the social, economic, and environmental effects of harvesting timber from Kambui Hills forest reserve in Sierra Leone, a part Gola rain forest, biodiversity hotspot along upper Guinea zone that stretches through Manor River Union basin Republics Guinea, Leone Liberia. The area covers an 40 kilometers length five breadth (20,348 hectares land), with population 45,562 residents [1]. A ten-year time series data 2010 to 2021 is used for this research. processed using EViews 10 statistical software package regression analysis. set collected Food Agriculture Organization Statistics United Nations (FAOSTAT); International Timber Trade (ITTO); Statistical Office European (EUROSTAT). specified variables such as primary literacy Level, carbon emissions, inflation, unemployment, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Exports, natural resource rent are determine socio-economic impacts within area. results analysis confirmed R² or coefficient determination 0.5734, which shows 57 % dependent variable significantly explained by independent model. Similarly, economic impact 0.8596, indicates 86 In same vein, social showed R-square 0.9667. statistically significant 97 Thus, models its on investigated. will conclude recommendations relevant stakeholders Leone.