Indigenous Leadership and Urgent Conservation Efforts Unite in Freetown

Indigenous Leadership and Urgent Conservation Efforts Unite in Freetown

A pivotal regional consultative meeting on Indigenous and local community conservation leadership, running concurrently with the Great Apes conservation meeting, has officially begun in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The gathering was inaugurated with powerful traditional blessings and inspiring keynote addresses, emphasizing the urgent need to protect biodiversity and uphold Indigenous Peoples' rights.

Chief Amara commenced the event with blessings, establishing a strong cultural foundation for this crucial assembly of Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities (IPLCs), partners, and conservation leaders.

Mr. Edward Bundu of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change highlighted the escalating threats of poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and habitat encroachment, which severely impact iconic species such as the Western chimpanzees. He reiterated the government's commitment to collaborating with communities and networks like AICA to bolster sustainable forest and wildlife management.

Sophie Collier, Conservation Manager at Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, delivered an urgent call to action to save Sierra Leone's national animal, the critically endangered Western chimpanzee. Despite decades of rescue efforts, chimpanzee habitats continue to shrink at an alarming rate, jeopardizing the survival of even the youngest generation.

Collier implored all stakeholders to transcend rhetoric and engage in collective, urgent action.

Representing IUCN West Africa and Central Africa – PACO, Mr. Achare Felicien Nyenty conveyed a message of solidarity on behalf of the Regional Director. He lauded the meeting as a vital platform to strengthen IPLC voices in conservation and align priorities in anticipation of the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress.

Nyenty underscored successful community-led conservation projects across Africa and stressed that wildlife protection is intrinsically linked with safeguarding culture, strengthening local institutions, and fostering regional cooperation.

Over the next three days, this dynamic meeting will concentrate on building regional advocacy, sharing best practices, and launching Sierra Leone's national AICA network to amplify community leadership in conservation.

Collectively, the voices and actions emerging from this historic gathering aim to advance a shared vision: conservation rooted in Indigenous leadership, cultural heritage, and ecological integrity, ultimately benefiting both people and nature.