Over 80 participants, including councillors, chairladies, headmen, harbour masters, fishermen, fishmongers, sea turtle monitors, and other key stakeholders from Turtle and Sherbro Island communities in Deima Chiefdom, Bonthe District, have commended the Reptile and Amphibian Program-Sierra Leone (RAP-SL) for its impactful work in the chiefdom.
They highlighted the organization’s role in promoting education and awareness, noting that all four sections of the chiefdom now have at least two schools each an improvement they say outweighs past practices such as killing sea turtles. The stakeholders pledged their continued support for conservation efforts.
The Paramount Chief of Deima Chiefdom, P.C. Ansumana Ngabay IV, praised RAP-SL for raising awareness about the importance of protecting mangroves, sea turtles, manatees, and other marine species, as well as empowering local communities. He commended residents for adhering to laws prohibiting the killing of sea turtles and the destruction of mangroves.
He made these remarks on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Chiefdom Administration Community Barri in Chepu during a sensitization meeting organized by RAP-SL on environmental protection.
Addressing concerns about mangrove cutting, the Paramount Chief clarified that most of the logging occurs outside the chiefdom, noting that locals primarily purchase wood for fish processing. He added that he is collaborating with neighbouring chiefdoms to enforce conservation laws.
He reminded residents that the local fine for killing a sea turtle in Deima Chiefdom is Le500 and warned that anyone caught violating environmental laws would face strict penalties.
However, the Paramount Chief raised concerns about the need for improved energy-efficient fish-smoking ovens. While acknowledging that over 150 ovens have already been provided through support from RAP-SL and its partners, he stressed that demand remains high.
He also cautioned against proposed zircon mining activities in the chiefdom, revealing that although several investors have shown interest, such activities could pose serious environmental risks, including land degradation.
The Founder and Managing Director of RAP-SL, Mr. Edward Aruna, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to protecting sea turtles, manatees, mangroves, and other endangered species across Sierra Leone.
He highlighted international recognition for his work, including an award from Prince William, the Prince of Wales, under the Tusk conservation initiative.
Mr. Aruna further noted that RAP-SL receives support from partners such as PRCM for sea turtle and mangrove conservation, and RAMPAO for sustainable coastal resource management. He emphasized that these partnerships aim to protect Sierra Leone’s marine biodiversity.
He warned that climate change is already affecting coastal communities, particularly the Turtle Islands, where land loss is becoming increasingly evident.
Speaking on sea turtles, Mr. Aruna explained that climate change is influencing their population balance. He noted that temperature plays a critical role in determining the sex of hatchlings: cooler temperatures tend to produce males, while warmer temperatures produce females. With rising temperatures, this imbalance poses a threat to the species’ survival.
On manatees, he revealed that they have been recorded in both Bonthe and Moyamba Districts but face similar threats, urging communities to help protect them.
Mr. Aruna also emphasized the importance of mangroves, describing them as vital to coastal ecosystems due to their role in supporting marine biodiversity and capturing carbon. He noted that mangroves are highly adaptable plants capable of filtering salt and thriving in harsh coastal conditions.
He disclosed that RAP-SL is currently collaborating with the University of Manchester, Njala University, and other European institutions on mangrove research across Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia.
Although some organisations are exploring carbon credit opportunities from mangroves, Mr. Aruna stated that RAP-SL remains focused primarily on conservation.
During the engagement, participants shared experiences and emphasized the economic benefits of improved fish-smoking ovens. One fishmonger revealed that her firewood costs had reduced significantly from Le2000 to Le400 thanks to the use of energy-efficient ovens, which can also utilize alternative fuels such as coconut shells.
Mr. Aruna announced that more durable materials, including 8ft by 4ft wire mesh, will be introduced to improve oven quality, and that surveys will be conducted to expand support to additional communities.
He concluded by urging communities to take ownership of their natural resources, stressing that environmental protection is a shared responsibility.
The event ended with an interactive question-and-answer session and the distribution of T-shirts to participants.