The theme for the workshop is: increasing capacity to address coastal vulnerability to climate change in West Africa. Coastal areas like mangrove forests and other wetlands are described as highly vulnerable to climate change, and under pressure for human activities.

The West Africa biodiversity and climate change Briam Bangura planning research monitoring and evaluation manager of national protected area authority   says over a quarter of the Region’s population, almost 100 million people living within 100 km of the coast. This number is growing rapidly, but coastal areas are not attracting enough attention or investment to protect them.  

Assuring Sierra Leoneans, Abdulai Solema Kamara, the communication specialist of National Protected Area Authority NPAA said Sierra Leone would start benefiting from the mangroves in the country.

However at the end, key players say they are committed to developing an action plan to reduce the risk involved for our environment.