The Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL) is a non-governmental, non political, non-profit, charitable environmental organization founded in 1986 with the aim of providing and advocating for a broad national framework for biodiversity conservation, research, education and awareness raising and site action.

CSSL is the foremost national wildlife conservation NGO in Sierra Leone with offices in Freetown and Kenema. We are a membership organization headed by a National Executive Council. The Society has gained international recognition with the award of the UNEP Global 2000 Award to the Honourary President, Dr. S.S. Banya for outstanding conservation education campaigns.

CSSL is a BirdLife International Partner Organization in Sierra Leone. BirdLife International is a global partnership of 106 national conservation organizations working for the diversity of life and sustainability in the use of natural resources. The Executive Director was chair of the Council of BirdLife African Partnership 2001-2003, and is the present chair of the BirdLife International Africa working group of the Upper Guinea Forest in West Africa.

For the past 20 years, the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone has grappled with numerous environmental problems and conservation issues in the country, particularly in the Western Area Peninsula Forest, the Gola Rainforest Reserve, Kambui Hills Forest Reserve, Outamba-Kilimi National Park, the Sierra Leone River Estuary (the only designated Ramsar Site in the country), Yawri Bay and other high biodiversity hotspots in the country. The Society has a strategic document with a clear vision, mission and strategic purpose to work with the Government of Sierra Leone, partner organizations, institutions and groups. We are an active and founding member of the Environmental Forum for Action (ENFORAC), a coalition of environmental NGOs, community groups and academic institutions working together for a healthy environment in Sierra Leone.

We have, in our almost 20 years of operation, grown from a membership of 9 to well over 500 adults, 3000 school children and 29 affiliate organizations. We employ eight core full-time staff and 11 contract project staff, we have hosted 45 university students on six-month internships, 3 international ENGO workers, and many local volunteers. The Society’s activities are administered by the Secretariat, which is headed by the Chief Executive Officer/Programme Coordinator. There are currently five operational divisions: Administration and Finance, Fundraising and Marketing, Community Development and Site Action, Advocacy, Education and Communications, and Biodiversity Conservation. Our core activities are coordinated by five working committees, which are appointed by the Executive Committee.

The CSSL is the Wetlands International Affiliate Organization in Sierra Leone. The Executive Director is the present chair of the steering committee of the Wetland International West Africa Programme.