Green Rooted Agriculture Associations: Community-Led Pairing of Urban Agriculture and Phytoremediation in Sierra Leone

It is estimated that urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) contributes up to 30 per cent of global food production. Critically, water from streams and groundwater wells commonly used for irrigation at UPA sites is often highly contaminated by industrial wastewater and sewage. This project introduces managed planting schemes and phytoremediation (ie plant-based removal or immobilisation of contaminants) as a means of enhancing green infrastructure and strengthening the figurative roots of communities in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Project methodology is based on a combination of community surveying and engagement, environmental monitoring and modelling, GIS analyses, and policy development. By piloting phytoremediation at three UPA sites across Freetown, GRASS has the potential to significantly influence environmental health and community wellbeing of the most vulnerable sections of the urban population.

Research Team: Dr Lee Bryant, University of Bath; Mr Kabba Bangura, University of Sierra Leone; Dr Solomon Gbanie, University of Sierra Leone; Dr Thomas Kjeldsen, University of Bath; Dr Roy Maconachie, University of Bath