The Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) is strengthening international partnerships and seeking support for the country’s biodiversity conservation priorities at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Yerevan, Armenia.
The conference, which runs from October 19 to 30, 2026, provides a platform for Sierra Leone to engage international partners on biodiversity conservation, sustainable natural resource management, climate resilience and environmental financing.
EPA-SL’s participation focuses on mobilising resources, securing technical cooperation and strengthening institutional capacity to support the implementation of the country’s environmental commitments.
As Sierra Leone’s focal agency for the CBD and its Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols, EPA-SL is promoting priorities covering biodiversity conservation, biosafety, equitable benefit-sharing, marine spatial planning, the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and sustainable natural resource governance.
These priorities are incorporated into Sierra Leone’s Third National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 3.0), which provides a framework for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use from 2026 to 2035.
The Sierra Leonean delegation is led by Chief Director Sheku Mark Kanneh and includes officials from the agency’s Natural Resources Governance and Programme Development and Performance directorates, alongside CBD focal point Joseph S. Turay.
During the conference, the delegation is participating in side events and engaging international partners to explore opportunities for financing, technical assistance and institutional development.
The agency is also seeking to build on existing partnerships and initiatives supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to strengthen support for national environmental programmes.
As part of these engagements, Bintu Sia Kamara, Project Manager of the Guinean Forests Country Project, participated in a panel discussion titled “From Global Commitments to Regional Action for Biodiversity, Climate and People.”
The session brought together experiences from major forest regions, including the Guinean Forests, the Congo Basin and the Amazon, with discussions focusing on cross-border cooperation and regional approaches to biodiversity conservation and climate action.
Kamara highlighted the importance of transboundary collaboration, policy coordination and landscape governance in achieving sustainable conservation outcomes. She also emphasised the role of knowledge-sharing, adaptive management, private sector participation and sustainable financing in strengthening regional environmental initiatives.
Her contribution underscored the need to translate international commitments into coordinated action that protects ecosystems, supports local communities and promotes the sustainable management of shared natural resources.
EPA-SL’s participation at COP17 forms part of Sierra Leone’s broader efforts to address biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution through international cooperation and stronger environmental governance.
The agency aims to use the conference to deepen partnerships, mobilise resources and strengthen the capacity required to implement national environmental priorities, protect biodiversity and safeguard livelihoods for present and future generations.
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