Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Some 74 of the 2,000 plant species recorded in the country are endemic to Sierra Leone. Wildlife in the Savanna is characterized by elephants, leopards, hyenas, duikers, genets, civets, warthogs, aardvarks, chimpanzees, baboons and monkeys [ ] 201 Habitat protection and awareness-raising Since 2003, the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP) have gained the attention of ministries and environmental NGOs. Wide rang- es of projects have been undertaken in diverse areas of biodiversity conserva- tion including habitats and species. Sea turtles have had more conser- vation attention and protection than any other species in the country, hav- ing been assessed, and campaigns run for their protection by the Sea Turtle Conservation Programme in collabo- ration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS). Manatees, amphibians and the other reptile species have not been accorded specific species protection status, but the protection of their habitats by MAFFS and MFMR in collaboration with environmental NGOs in Sierra Leone, has benefited them. The habitat protection activi- ties included the creation of Marine Protected (MPA) and Protected Areas (PAs). The recently established Gola National Park and the Yawri Bay MPA, in addition to older PAs and national parks in Sierra Leone repre- sent progress. The review of the country’s for- estry, fisheries and wildlife laws and regulations are recommendations from the 2003 NBSAP. The review started in 2000 and has had a series of consideration by the MAFFS, en- vironmental NGOs, and law reform committees. It is presently ongoing under the leadership of MAFFS through the Biodiversity Project. Progress is also being made in the designation of marine protected areas for the four main estuarine systems in the country — Scarcies River Estuary, Sierra Leone River Estuary, Yawri Bay and Sherbro River Estuary. One of the biggest achievements of the implementation of the NBSAP is in the area of education and aware- ness raising on the importance of biodiversity in general to human sur- vival. Since 2003, radio programmes, newspaper articles, community meetings and workshops have been created by various stakeholders to promote the wise use and manage- ment of biological resources and habitats. Also various biodiversity-re- lated study programmes have been introduced in the universities and colleges to address the education and technical needs of natural biological resource management in the country. There have also been major strides in promoting both in-situ and ex-situ conservation, especially for areas that fall within the country’s PA system. Sierra Leone Sierra Leone S ierra Leone has a total land surface area of 71,740 km 2 . Forest accounts for 27,620 km 2 (38.5 per cent of land surface) while national protected land is 2,941 km 2 (4.1 per cent of the total surface area). The country lies within the Upper Guinean Lowland Forest Ecosystem with an abundant richness in ecosystem and species biodiversity, and with lowland rainforests, mountain forests, savannah woodlands, agricultural, freshwater and wetlands. There are 48 forest reserves and conservation areas, representing about 4 per cent of the land area. The total area of government wildlife reserves is estimated at 173,000ha. The country is divided into four main relief regions: coastline, interior lowland plain, interior plateau and mountains. JB Dodane on flickr