This dataset contains information about the locations and local environmental conditions of 123 Malaise trap samples collected in November-December 2021 in the 908 km2 forested ‘leakage belt’ buffer zone of the Gola Rainforest National Park (GRNP) in eastern Sierra Leone, where cocoa, a driver of deforestation, is the main cash crop. Each trap was set out for five days with >99% ethanol. The samples were transported from Sierra Leone to the UK, where they have been sent for metabarcoding for arthropods (using Leray2 PCR primers). The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (Grant NE/S014063/1). Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/161315e4-71c1-481d-906c-149ab2e9705c

Data comprise measured heights of five species of trees after 2.5 years growth between June 2007 and November 2009 in plots reclaimed using a variety of planting techniques and surface applications following mining for rutile in Lanti South, Sierra Leone, West Africa. Eight 25 by 25 metres plots were divided into four squares and four rectangles and planted in June 2007. The five tree species included Gmelina (Gmelina arborea), mango (Mangifera indica), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), citrus (Citrus sinensis) and monkey apple (Anisophyllea laurina). Five rows of trees were planted at a spacing of 5 meters in each direction to minimize above and below ground competition. Four planting treatments were tested: 1 bucket of compost per planting hole, 1 bucket of topsoil, 1 bucket of a 50:50 mix of compost and topsoil and a control. Surface treatments included 2 cm of compost, 5 cm of mulch, 2 cm of top-soil and a control. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/d4c6029a-464c-49d0-bcc7-75757cab2b3a