Sierra Leone Environment Matters

We are a group of volunteers working on reducing deforestation and advocating for environmental awareness and conservation of forests in Kenema, Sierra Leone

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

We rescued this poor little one from a bushmeat trader. We have taken it back to a forest where it will find other pangolins and enough food.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Kpandebu Dama Tihun Forest, Kenema, Sierra Leone.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

We are proud to launch our new monthly series highlighting 10 extraordinary women leaders in Kenema District driving forest restoration and community resilience.

In our premiere episode, join us in Maina Bafawahun to meet the inspiring Jebbeh Moijueh.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Restoration in Action!

Last week, we hosted an inspiring GLF Africa 2026 Watch Party. We dove deep into the theme "Stewarding Our Rangelands," discussing restoration and peaceful coexistence within our local ecosystems.

Huge thanks to everyone who joined the conversation. M

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Kpandebu Dama Tihun Island Rainforest

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Thanks everyone for an amazing hiking trip to Kotomahun village yesterday.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

We have now completed planting 6000 trees in Bafawahun, Diama and Nekabo. With 4000 left to be planted in the community forest of Kotomahun during the new year. Thanks to all our volunteers who made this work possible.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Congrats to our National Coordinator and @GYBNAfrica for representing African youths at the First Africa Biodiversity Summit organised by the African Union in Gaborone, Botswana. You made it clear that Africa's ecological and economic sovereignty cannot be achieved without us.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

We’re excited to share that our recent work in Sierra Leone has been featured in Global Landscapes Forum Think Landscape!

Read about how our team in Kenema, is navigating the delicate balance between working with communities and protecting forests.

https://t.co/eDeqBWIwPG

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Our restoration efforts continue this time in Diama. It focuses on a section of their forest, a crucial watershed that has suffered severe deforestation and now threatens local water security. Together with the community we planted 600 trees on day 1, with another 1,500 to go.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

This weekend, we kicked off our Landscape Restoration Work in Bafawahun, one of four communities working with us to restore over 10 hectares of degraded forest land.
Together, we’ll grow 10,000 trees on degraded forest lands. Thanks to @CIFOR_ICRAF and @GlobalLF for the funds.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Some highlights from last week’s sessions of the Environmental Journey Program: SLEM’s Flagship Environmental Education Initiative in schools in Kenema District, Eastern Sierra Leone.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Sierra Leone Environment Matter (SLEM), with the support of @CIFOR, has completed a comprehensive training program for school teachers and SLEM volunteers. The training equips participants to deliver SLEM’s hands-on environmental education program across all school levels.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Last week, with the support of @GlobalLF , we successfully completed training for the first group of school teachers and SLEM volunteers from Kenema and surrounding rural communities, equipping them to deliver our hands-on environmental education program across all schools.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Good news & bad news from Kambui South: Forest near Kotomahun village is thriving & full of wildlife this rainy season. But illegal gold mining & dredging are destroying it. We’re meeting with the community to put a permanent stop to these activities.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Another week, another community nursery site completed! This time in Kotomahun. We’ve successfully germinated seedlings and transferred them into polythene bags. This will allow them to grow to the 30–50 cm height needed before transplanting into degraded areas of their forest.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Honoured to join last week’s stakeholder meeting on forming National CSO & Private Sector Networks for REDD+.

Thanks to @CCSL for uniting us around forest conservation and climate action in Sierra Leone!

Thanks to Aruna Senesie for representing us and making an impart.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Today, our team was in working alongside community members to move germinated seedlings into polythene bags at our newly built nursery site. This is part of our ongoing landscape restoration project, and it’s inspiring to see young and old coming together to care for nature.

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Foot print of a Pygmy hippo!

[Sierra Leone Environment Matters @SLEM_SL]

Kpandebu Dama’s island rainforest is under threat from logging and mining.

We’ve secured an agreement with the community to protect it through education, reforestation & sustainable initiatives.

This forest is home to rare wildlife, including the endangered pygmy hippo!