Ten forest and wilderness areas of Sierra Leone have been identified as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) based on existing knowledge, covering some 5,776 km² or 7.9% of the country’s land area. These sites contain the most important centers of remaining biodiversity in the country. Preliminary KBA assessments were made in 2004 based on a desk study with outdated survey data extracted from IBA surveys conducted back in 1994.

Since then, no systematic study has been done to provide recent information on the status, conditions and remaining biological diversity of these areas. Considering the urgent need to collect updated species record data, the proposed project will develop a national KBA assessment protocol clearly defining a step-by-step process for assessing all KBAs and will pilot the assessment of one IBA, the Western Area Peninsular National Park (WAP-NP). The information generated will be used to propose additional justification for this area (WAP-NP) to upgrade its protective status as a Key Biodiversity Area or to further inform engagement in a national KBA assessment.

The Developing National Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) Assessment Protocol and Evaluating the Status of a Pilot Legacy KBA project’s immediate objectives are:

Objective 1 To develop national KBA assessment protocols and build capacity for a comprehensive assessment of all KBAs in Sierra Leone. 

Objective 2 To re-assess and update the biodiversity status and provide detailed information on the threats, data gaps and conservation status of one legacy KBA in Sierra Leone.

Objective 3 Assess local community capacity to participate in developing resilience to and addressing climate change impacts in the WAP-NP.

Objective 4 To develop Terms of Reference for SL-National Coordination Group (SL-NCG) to increase effectiveness in coordination and collaboration among  its  members.

Edward Sesay is the Head of Programme at the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL). Edward holds a BSc degree Agricultural Education from Njala University, University of Sierra Leone (1985), and a Post-graduate Diploma (distinction) from Durrell Institute of Conservation Ecology (DICE), University of Kent, United Kingdom (2005). He has over 30 years of combined work experience in programme Leadership, Environmental and Sustainable Natural Resource Management and conservation, education and awareness raising, livelihoods relief and disaster risk mitigation, child focused interventions and poverty reduction, strategic planning and project implementation.