Freetown Hosts Regional Conservation Meeting

Freetown Hosts Regional Conservation Meeting

Friends of the Earth Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Alliance for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities for Conservation in Africa (AICA), successfully concluded a three-day regional consultative meeting in Freetown. The high-level gathering brought together conservation organizations from across Africa with the primary goal of popularizing AICA and expanding its membership throughout the region.

The inaugural Regional Consultative Meeting for Central Africa and Great Apes Countries took place at the Sierra Palms Resort on Lumley Beach from Tuesday, September 9th, to Thursday, September 11th, 2025.

The event assembled Indigenous Peoples and Local Community (IPLC) leaders, community representatives, government officials, and conservation partners from across the region to deliberate on critical conservation strategies and foster collaboration.

Designed as a vital platform, the meeting allowed IPLC organizations from Great Apes range countries to discuss their unique conservation challenges, identify practical solutions, and formulate unified advocacy positions. These efforts are in preparation for the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress.

Throughout the three-day meeting, participants from IPLCs, government bodies, and conservation partners gained a clearer understanding of AICA’s strategic objectives, its proposed governance structure, and its mission for Central Africa.