2. Background

The current status of Sierra Leone’s wildlife resources is not well-known as a result of the recent conflict, land use change, uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources, and a lack of recent comprehensive inventory. However, what is known is summarised in several national documents most notably the national Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (2003). Two recent donor documents also assess the status of wildlife and its management in Sierra Leone: the US Agency for International Development’s Biodiversity and Tropical Forestry Assessment (2007) and the Global Environment Facility’s Sierra Leone: Biodiversity Conservation Project Document (2009). 7 This policy, developed by the process described in Section 1, takes account of these initiatives, international obligations, existing and evolving national policies and laws, and numerous other documents and consultation as well as the guiding principles outlined below.

Wildlife Resources

Sierra Leone’s predominant natural vegetation is the western extremity of the Upper Guinean Forest formation, though much of the forest is now degraded and occupied by agricultural land, savannas and other secondary vegetation. Approximately 70% of the country was formerly covered by forest, but less than 5% of original intact forest remains. Nevertheless the country contains rich indigenous flora and fauna including important endemic species, and internationally rare and threatened species. Indigenous flora and fauna exceeds 2000 species of vascular plants, 46 amphibians, 69 reptiles and 600 bird species. Almost 200 species of mammals includes 15 primates and18 antelopes. Of these at least 27 vertebrate species and 47 vascular plant species are recognised as globally threatened. The Gola forest alone has 14 bird species of global conservation concern. As more information is gathered on more cryptic or less studied groups, the number of species overall will increase along with the number or endemic and/or threatened species. Currently 48 forest reserves and conservation areas cover about 4% of the land area of Sierra Leone. However, Outamba Kilimi National Park and Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary are the only areas gazetted primarily for wildlife conservation (though other areas are informally designated as such), which combined comprise approximately 1.5% of the national land area. Currently there are no marine protected areas. The national Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan identified other priority areas for conservation: Gola Forest Reserves, the Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve, Loma -Tingi Complex, Outamba Kilimi National Park, Mamuta Mayoso, Yawri Bay, Lakes Mape and Mabesi and Kangari Hills, which combined would bring the national wildlife conservation estate to about 2.5% of total land area, and which are projected to contain 80-90% of the country’s terrestrial indigenous flora and fauna.