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Conservation Society of Sierra Leone

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Conservation Society of Sierra Leone

Environmental Non- Governmental Organisation

The Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL) is the leading national non-governmental conservation organization in Sierra Leone. We are committed to the conservation of wildlife and their natural habitats and management of Sierra Leone's natural resources. Our membership is open to the public and consists of people from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about nature.

01/07/2026

CSSL Engages Private Sector Actors on REDD+ Processes

The Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, ended a day-long sensitization engagement with the Private Sector on REDD+ processes in Freetown on 30 June 2026. The objective was to ensure that participants gain clear understanding of the programme’s goals and its role in promoting sustainable forest management and supporting community development.

Participants were drawn from extractive industries as well as agroforestry firms across the country.

Addressing the assembly, the Chairman of the REDD+ National Technical Committee, Ansumana Babar Turay from the National Protected Area Authority, thanked CSSL and FAO for what he referred to as a strong collaboration to achieve this milestone. He underscored the role of the private sector towards the success of REDD+ in other countries.

The engagement was climaxed by the establishment of a National REDD+ Network of Private Sector. "Finally, for the first time in the history of this country, Sierra Leone now has three critical REDD+ Networks - National REDD+ Network of Local Communities, National REDD+ Network of CSOs/NGOs and now, National REDD+ Network of Private Sector. This is massive achievement!", the National REDD+ Technical Coordinator at FAO, Dr. Gbessay E. S. Momoh asserted at the end of the engagement. He noted that making these networks functional is the biggest action that needs to be brainstormed by the leaderships of the respective networks, government stakeholders and partners.
Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone RSPB England Wetlands International BirdLife International Africa Ministry Of The Environment Sierra Leone European Union in Sierra Leone UNDP in Sierra Leone

12/06/2026

The Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), with funding from BMZ through WHH, held a symposium today on 12 June 2026 to sensitize School Nature and Out-of-school Adolescent Clubs, and local community leaders drawn from Fogbo, Tombo and Kent in Western Area Rural District (WARDC), and Suen in Ribbi Chiefdom, Moyamba District on the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities. The engagement was hosted at the WARDC Hall in Waterloo, and also had other environmental actors, officials of WARDC and the media in attendance.

The event was part of CSSL's celebrations of the World Environment Day, and was climaxed with a group work session in which participants were guided to develop a work plan for implementation in their respective schools and communities to mitigate the effects of climate change on their communities.

Participants viewed this community-based approach as one that is laudable and registered strong commitment to collaborating with CSSL and other actors towards its implementation.
Wetlands International RSPB England Welthungerhilfe BirdLife International Africa Gola Rainforest Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone Save the Children Sierra Leone GOAL Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) RSPB PRCM

02/06/2026

On 2nd June 2026, the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), SiLNoF, Wellfound and WHH jointly launched two new projects at the Moyamba District Council Hall. The three-year projects are funded by BMZ and currently being implemented in Moyamba and Western Area Rural districts.

Delivering a statement on behalf of CSSL, the Executive Director of CSSL, Dr Sheku Kamara, vividly introduced the project; “Oasis on the Coast: Conservation of the Yawri Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA) through Community-Based Conservation Measures and Sustainable Livelihoods in Eight Communities" to participants. He mentioned that the project will be implemented in parts of Moyamba and Western Area Rural districts, and will benefit over 2,880 people in 8 communities in both districts.

Participants included the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, representatives from other relevant ministries, departments and agencies, Paramount Chiefs and other local authorities, and local groups, among others.

BirdLife International Africa Wetlands International Save the Children Sierra Leone Welthungerhilfe RSPB England Gola Rainforest Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone European Union in Sierra Leone Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)

19/05/2026

CSSL, SLAFU and other conservation organisations in Liberia and Ghana are currently benefiting from the African Conservation Leadership Network Programme organised and conducted by Maliasili.

It is a nine-month long program with a mix of online and in-person engagements that prepare identified Conservation Leaders in Africa to support and strengthen sustainable conservation initiatives in the organisations' respective countries and the continent generally.

The Programme has just ended the first week of in-person training of its 7th cohort of African Conservation Leaders in Ghana.

Representing CSSL in this important conservation leadership journey are the Executive Director, Dr. Sheku Kamara and the Communications Manager, Abdul Kaprr Dumbuya. Skills and experiences acquired from this program will have great improvement on the future leadership and impact of our operations on the environment and forest dependent communities.

Our profound thanks to Maliasili for involving CSSL in this professional training. Maliasili supports community-led conservation organizations across Africa to become stronger and even more impactful.
Wetlands International Gola Rainforest RSPB England Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone GOAL Save the Children Sierra Leone Welthungerhilfe Abdul Kaprr Dumbuya BirdLife International Africa

16/04/2026

The Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL) is currently undertaking community sensitization and awareness raising campaign in coastal communities on the hazards of oil and gas pollution on marine environment.

The activity is being conducted in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Artisanal Fishermen’s Union (SLAFU) and the Civil Society Advocacy Network on Climate Change and the Environment (CAN-SL) which are members of the National Civil Society Coalition on Marine Protection (NaCSCoMP).

The campaign covers 6 coastal communities, including Tombo, Rokupr, Kassirie, Shenge, Sulima and Gbondapi in Western Area Rural, Kambia, Moyamba and Pujehun districts respectively.

This initiative is part of an array of activities supported by MAVA Foundation through PRCM to promote public awareness and knowledge about the negative impacts of oil and gas pollution on marine ecosystems, community livelihood, and human health.
IUCN RSPB Biosfera Cabo Verde Welthungerhilfe Wetlands International PRCM BirdLife International Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone Ministry Of The Environment Sierra Leone

11/03/2026

CSSL, BirdLife and EPASL Organise a Technical Workshop on Strengthening Cross-Border Collaborative Management of the Greater Gola Transboundary Landscape in Kenema, Sierra Leone.

On 11 March 2026, the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), in partnership with the Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone (EPASL) and BirdLife International, kick-started a two-day Technical Workshop on Strengthening Cross-border Collaborative Management of the Greater Gola Transboundary Landscape. The event, which is hosted at the Albertson Hotel in Kenema, Eastern Sierra Leone, will run through 12 March 2026, marking the formal commencement of the Guinean Forests Integrated Program, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by Conservation International in partnership with FAO, IUCN and BirdLife International. This program is a transboundary forest conservation initiative involving implementing partners in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The workshop focused on improving cooperation between Sierra Leone and Liberia in protecting and managing the shared Gola Forest ecosystem.

The Greater Gola Transboundary Landscape spans across the border of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, linking Gola Rainforest National Park in Sierra Leone and the Gola Forest National Park in Liberia.

This forest is one of West Africa’s most important biodiversity hotspots, home to rare wildlife such as forest elephants, chimpanzees, and numerous bird species.

Participants included Sierra Leone’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Executive Directors of the Forestry Division Authority of Liberia and National Protected Area Authority of Sierra Leone, the Secretary General of Mano River Union, representatives from RSPB England, SCNL, Conservation International, traditional leaders, the media, and a host of many other state and non-state actors in both countries.
Ministry Of The Environment Sierra Leone BirdLife International Africa European Union in Sierra Leone Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone Gola Rainforest

14/02/2026

The Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), with funding from MAVA Foundation through PRCM, has on Thursday 12th February 2026 held an Evidence-based Advocacy Workshop for environmental CSOs and media representatives on oil and gas pollution on marine and coastal environment.

The engagement, which took place at the CCSL Conference Room in Freetown, brought together participants from across the country to increase their advocacy skills such that they would support CSSL in holding government and oil and gas actors accountable for their activities in the sector. The engagement also increased participants’ understanding of the hazards as well as economic benefits that are associated with oil exploitation in a country.

The workshop emphasized the role of the media and CSOs in disseminating data-driven, accurate, credible and reliable information to communities and policymakers to effect the desired social change in the country.
The next phase of the project will involve community outreach sensitization sessions to increase awareness among coastal residents about the hazards of oil pollution on marine ecosystems.
Ministry Of The Environment Sierra Leone RSPB Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone BirdLife International Africa JRS Biodiversity Foundation Gola Rainforest Save the Children Sierra Leone PRCM

12/12/2025

Project Inception Meeting: CSSL and WHH Strengthen Partnership for Yawri Bay Conservation

On 10 December 2025, the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), in partnership with Welthungerhilfe (WHH), convened a two-day inception meeting at the Family Kingdom conference hall in Freetown to launch their new project, “Oasis on the Coast: Conservation of the Yawri Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA) through Community-Based Conservation Measures and Sustainable Livelihoods in Eight Communities.” The event brought together participants from CSSL and WHH to discuss roles, expectations, and collaborative pathways for successful implementation.
The overarching goal of the three-year project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is to empower local communities to actively contribute to the protection and restoration of the Yawri Bay ecosystem. A total of 2,880 participants will be supported to implement localized Marine Protected Area (MPA) management plans and adopt sustainable livelihood practices that safeguard marine and coastal resources.

The project aims to strengthen community-led management of the Yawri Bay MPA by improving planning, capacities, and local structures across eight target communities (Tombo, Fogbo, Youndu, Katta, Kent, Moyeaneh, Bondatok and Suen). It seeks to boost environmental awareness and participation in implementing MPA management plans, contributing to the restoration of natural resources. Additionally, the project will support 980 participants with the skills, equipment, and resources needed to adopt sustainable livelihoods that reduce pressure on marine and coastal ecosystems, while also enhancing the institutional capacities of CSSL to ensure effective project delivery.

During the meeting, CSSL’s Executive Director, Dr. Sheku Kamara, expressed strong commitment to fostering effective collaboration with WHH, highlighting that this project stands as the second-largest intervention in the marine landscape after the GCF-funded initiative. He underscored the trust that CSSL has enjoyed from communities since it started implementing conservation projects in the Yawri Bay landscape. He disclosed that the initial interventions at Yawri Bay were short of alternative livelihood options, which was a strong expectation of communities. “To maintain the trust we have with communities, we felt compelled to source a project that will address livelihood options for our people”, he emphasised.
Representing WHH, Lea Schumacher commended the team’s effort throughout what she described as a “lengthy project development process” and emphasized the significance of working at Yawri Bay,
particularly as WHH seeks to deepen its learning and experience in mangrove restoration.

James Alpha from WHH reaffirmed the organization’s focus on strategic partnerships and support to national institutions. He noted that WHH is currently implementing three projects in Moyamba District, with the CSSL partnership adding a fourth. He underscored the importance of harmonizing efforts across all initiatives to maximize collective impact in the district. Concluding his remarks, he explained that the inception meeting served as a crucial platform for clarifying roles, expectations, and key actions needed to ensure smooth and successful project implementation.
Wetlands International Welthungerhilfe Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) PRCM GOAL Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) IUCN RSPB BirdLife International Africa BirdLife International

05/12/2025

Transforming Perceptions: Owl Awareness-Raising Activities in Mambolo, Kambia District.

The Owl Awareness Campaign held on 14 October 2025 in Mambolo, Kambia District, aimed to address negative traditional beliefs about owls and encourage positive conservation practices. The program engaged school children, teachers, and the broader community to correct myths portraying owls as symbols of evil and to promote awareness of their ecological importance.

At the school level, the campaign featured interactive discussions and a pupil-led drama titled “Changing Evil Perception on Owls,” which creatively highlighted the harmless nature of owls and their vital role in controlling pests. These activities sparked dialogue and strengthened pupils’ confidence to advocate for wildlife conservation.

To expand the campaign’s reach, educational posters were distributed and displayed in key public areas—including schools, the health centre, and the market—ensuring visibility beyond the direct participants. Conservation-themed T‑shirts given to teachers and pupils further increased awareness in the community.

A major component of the outreach effort was an interactive radio program aired on Radio Kollenten, the station with the largest audience in Kambia District. Community members participated by sending in text messages with questions and comments, all of which were addressed live. This platform enabled the campaign to reach thousands more listeners, effectively debunking harmful myths associated with owls.

Overall, the initiative reached an estimated 8,000 people through school activities, educational materials, and radio engagement. Early feedback suggests improved public understanding of owls and a gradual shift away from long‑held superstitions. The campaign demonstrated the importance of education and communication in fostering wildlife conservation and promoting coexistence between communities and the natural environment.

Wetlands International Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone JRS Biodiversity Foundation GOAL Biosfera Cabo Verde IUCN

Address

86A Main Congo Town Road
Freetown

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 17:00
Thursday	09:00 - 17:00
Friday	09:00 - 17:00

Website

http://cs-sl.org/

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