The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) organized a Parliamentary Engagement in Freetown to provide an update on the ongoing review of Sierra Leone’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035). The briefing was led by an international consultant from Kanko Limited, who presented the status of the process and key findings to Members of Parliament. The Government of Sierra Leone received support from the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership through its Facilitator Programme to implement the engagement.

Most of the parliamentarians who attended were from the Committee on Environment and Climate Change, together with representatives from other parliamentary committees. In his opening statement, Honourable Yusuf Mackery, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, underlined the importance of the updated NBSAP for accelerating biodiversity-related initiatives across the country. He stressed the need for effective coordination among ministries, departments and agencies that will be responsible for implementing the actions identified in the NBSAP, and noted that Parliament would work to develop the legislation needed to support smooth implementation of the framework.

The briefing outlined why biodiversity is central to Sierra Leone’s development. Around 65% of Sierra Leoneans depend directly on forests, fisheries, wetlands and other natural resources for their livelihoods. Mangrove ecosystems protect more than 600,000 people from coastal flooding and storm surges, and the country forms part of the Upper Guinea Forest, one of the world’s most threatened biodiversity hotspots. Healthy ecosystems were highlighted as essential for food security, water supply, climate resilience and tourism.

Parliamentarians were also reminded of Sierra Leone’s commitments under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), including protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030, restoring degraded ecosystems, reducing pollution, ensuring sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries, strengthening gender and youth inclusion, mobilizing increased domestic and international finance, and reporting progress through the updated NBSAP and the 7th National Biodiversity Report.

Findings from district and regional consultations showed a common set of pressures across the country, including charcoal production and timber cutting, sand and stone mining, mangrove cutting and coastal degradation, illegal fishing, agricultural expansion, urban settlement pressure, wildfires and pollution, as well as weak enforcement across ministries, departments and agencies. The most threatened ecosystems identified include mangroves, inland forests, urban wetlands and river estuaries.

The presentation also drew attention to urgent legislative gaps where parliamentary action is needed. Priorities include finalizing the Protected Areas Bill, updating the Forestry Act, strengthening wildlife and CITES-related legislation, improving land-use and wetland protection laws, reinforcing implementation of the Mines and Minerals Act with respect to biodiversity offsets, and addressing gaps related to invasive species and pollution regulation.

Finally, the engagement highlighted significant financing gaps. Less than 1% of the national budget currently supports biodiversity-related sectors, and institutions such as the NPAA, EPA, Forestry and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources remain underfunded. Protected areas struggle to meet surveillance and management needs, mangrove and forest restoration efforts rely largely on external support, local councils lack resources for environmental governance, and the Conservation Trust Fund is not yet capitalized to a functional level.

By bringing these issues before Parliament, the engagement provided a clear picture of the opportunities and constraints shaping Sierra Leone’s biodiversity agenda and reinforced the central role of legislative oversight, coordinated governance and sustainable financing in implementing the updated NBSAP.

Learn more about Sierra Leone and the progress of other country members on our Recent News page. Curious about the Facilitator Programme? Learn more about its critical role in accelerating NBSAPs here.