FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — The National Protected Areas Authority (NPAA) has launched a comprehensive assessment of alleged encroachment within the boundaries of the renowned Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, following a directive from President Julius Maada Bio to address unauthorized developments threatening the conservation area.
The assessment team, led by NPAA Communications Manager Thomas Lamin and supported by the Authority’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Monitoring and Evaluation units, is mapping structures and human activities believed to have encroached on protected land. The exercise is intended to establish the extent of violations and provide evidence for possible enforcement measures.
The move comes days after President Bio visited the sanctuary during a tour of tourism and heritage sites. During the visit, he ordered the demolition of illegal structures found within the sanctuary and its protected surroundings, stressing the need to safeguard Sierra Leone’s environmental assets and ecotourism destinations.
Management of Tacugama described the assessment as a vital step toward protecting the sanctuary’s wildlife habitat and ensuring the long-term survival of the forest ecosystem. Officials emphasized that accurate mapping and documentation are essential to guiding future interventions and preventing further encroachment.
The sanctuary, established in 1995 by conservationist Bala Amarasekaran, is one of Sierra Leone’s leading conservation institutions. Located within the Western Area Peninsula National Park, it cares for more than 100 endangered Western chimpanzees and plays a significant role in wildlife rehabilitation, environmental education, research, and ecotourism.
Concerns over encroachment around Tacugama have intensified in recent years. Conservationists have repeatedly warned that illegal land grabbing, deforestation, bush burning, and unregulated construction are shrinking the sanctuary’s buffer zone and threatening both wildlife and critical forest resources. In 2025, the sanctuary temporarily closed to visitors as part of a campaign to draw attention to increasing environmental degradation around its borders.
NPAA officials say the findings from the ongoing assessment will inform the government’s next course of action as authorities seek to balance environmental protection with engagement of communities living around the protected area.
The latest intervention is being viewed by conservation advocates as a significant test of the government’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and preserving one of Sierra Leone’s most important conservation and tourism landmarks.
