Leaders from eight coastal communities on Sierra Leone’s Western Area Peninsula have signed a declaration committing them to the collective protection and sustainable management of beaches and coastal environments.
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The declaration was signed on September 28, 2026, at Bureh Beach during a coastal dialogue organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. The event formed part of activities marking World Tourism Day and brought together community representatives, the National Tourist Board and the Monuments and Relics Commission.
Communities outline conservation commitments
The commitments cover environmental protection, sustainable tourism, coastal safety, heritage preservation and the protection of livelihoods. Community leaders agreed to coordinate with the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the National Tourist Board, while also working with private-sector stakeholders.
Other pledges include strengthening environmental education and public awareness, improving safety and security at tourism destinations, addressing beach erosion and environmental degradation, and promoting hygiene and sanitation. The communities also agreed to comply with national tourism policies, environmental regulations and other laws governing the sustainable use of coastal resources.
A central proposal is the establishment of local conservation committees. According to the commitments discussed, the committees would monitor coastal conditions and report illegal or destructive activities affecting beaches, heritage sites and marine ecosystems. Details about the committees’ membership, powers and implementation timeline were not provided.
Participants identify pressure on coastline
Participants identified climate change, illegal sand mining, natural disasters, pollution, poor waste management, environmental degradation, the loss of cultural heritage sites and criminal activities as threats to the coastal environment.
Sand mining to meet demand from Freetown’s construction sector was identified by participants as a major concern. They said the activity had contributed to coastal erosion and shoreline retreat, which they reported had reached about 40 metres in some locations. Participants also cited an estimated loss of 20 million cubic metres of sand along sections of the peninsula coastline.
Those figures were presented during the dialogue and were not independently verified in the source account.
Tourism and livelihoods
Participants described the ocean as a shared resource that supports livelihoods, health, wellbeing and economic development. They also discussed the importance of healthy beaches and marine ecosystems to tourism, employment and other economic opportunities for coastal communities.
The Western Area Peninsula’s beaches, cultural heritage and natural attractions support Sierra Leone’s tourism industry. Participants said tourism, cultural heritage preservation and the promotion of coastal attractions could contribute significantly to economic diversification.
Stakeholders expressed hope that the declaration would help safeguard Sierra Leone’s coastline and position the Western Area Peninsula as an example of community-led coastal conservation and sustainable tourism development. The source account does not report that these outcomes have already been achieved.
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