RAMSAR

The Sherbro River Estuary is one of four Sierra Leone coastal regions that was declared a Marine Protected Area in March 2012, recognizing the value of mangrove forests as critical to the success of the fisheries sector in the country. While this decision was a major step in the right direction, ongoing unsustainable practices and…

The Fresco coastal landscape includes the Fresco Lagoon and the Bolo and Niouniourou rivers which feed the lagoon with fresh water. Known locally as Koyiri, the lagoon lies in the administrative region of Gbokle. It has been classified as a Ramsar Site due to its rich biodiversity, including several endangered species like the manatee and…

There is no denying the recent spike in urbanization across the coast of West Africa: about 70% of urban and economic centers in the region can now be found along the coast. The growing populations put a tremendous amount of pressure on natural resources in the area, and the impacts are expected to be intensified…

Many communities along the coast of West Africa are susceptible to the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise, unpredictable weather patterns, and increased flooding. These impacts, which threaten properties and human lives, are further exacerbated by other human-induced risks stemming from the unsustainable use of natural resources. These include risks like unplanned development…