World Wetlands Day 2026: Celebrating Sierra Leone’s Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge

Every year on 2 February, the world commemorates World Wetlands Day, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971. The day serves as a global platform to raise awareness about the critical importance of wetlands and the urgent need to conserve them. In 2026, the theme “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage” calls attention to the wisdom and practices of local communities whose lives and cultures are deeply connected to wetland ecosystems.

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. They include mangroves, swamps, marshes, floodplains, estuaries and rice paddies. These ecosystems provide essential services such as water purification, flood control, carbon storage, biodiversity conservation and livelihood support. Despite covering only a small proportion of the Earth’s surface, wetlands support a remarkable diversity of plant and animal species and sustain millions of people worldwide.

Sierra Leone has more than 4,800 km2 of wetlands, including riverine ecosystems, freshwater and coastal swamps and mangroves and artificial impoundments, which support unique ecosystems. Wetlands are central to the country’s national development, food security and climate resilience. Coastal mangrove forests protect shorelines from erosion and storm surges, support fisheries and provide fuelwood and building materials. Inland wetlands and floodplains are vital for rice cultivation, particularly in rural communities where wetlands form the backbone of subsistence farming systems. Rivers, estuaries and swamps also serve as breeding grounds for fish and other aquatic species, supporting local livelihoods and nutrition.

The 2026 World Wetlands Day theme is particularly relevant to Sierra Leone, where traditional knowledge has long guided the sustainable use of wetland resources. For generations, communities have developed farming, fishing and harvesting practices that are adapted to seasonal water cycles and local ecological conditions. Traditional rice cultivation techniques, community-based fishing rules and customary land management systems reflect a deep understanding of wetland dynamics and the need for balance between use and conservation.

However, Sierra Leone’s wetlands are under increasing threat. Unregulated land conversion, pollution, mangrove cutting, sand mining and the impacts of climate change are degrading wetland ecosystems. “The loss of wetlands not only undermines biodiversity but also weakens community resilience, increases vulnerability to flooding and threatens livelihoods that depend on these ecosystems”, Abdul Salfu Conteh, Operations Coordinator of the Society on Environmental Pollution in Sierra Leone (SEPSiL), emphasised.

“like other coastal communities, our community is seriously threatened by the impact of climate change, which are exacerbated by our very actions of deforesting the mangroves that protect our shorelines”, Madam Adama Seray Conteh of Tombo community laments during an engagement with SEPSiL officials.

SEPSiL Urges all Stakeholders to Act Now to Protect Sierra Leone’s Wetlands:

As Sierra Leone joins the global community in celebrating World Wetlands Day 2026, SEPSiL’s message is clear: protecting wetlands is not only an environmental imperative but also a cultural and social responsibility. By valuing traditional knowledge and taking collective action, Sierra Leone can safeguard its wetlands as living landscapes that sustain people, heritage and nature for generations to come.

We urge government institutions to strengthen policies and enforcement mechanisms that protect wetlands while promoting their sustainable use. Integrating traditional knowledge into national wetland management strategies can enhance conservation outcomes and ensure that policies reflect local realities.

Communities play a vital role as custodians of wetlands! Documenting and passing on traditional ecological knowledge to younger generations is essential for sustaining cultural heritage and environmental stewardship. Schools and civil society organizations can support education and awareness programmes that highlight the value of wetlands and the wisdom embedded in traditional practices.

The private sector and development partners also have a responsibility to support wetland conservation through responsible investment, restoration initiatives and livelihood programmes that reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems. Community-led wetland restoration, mangrove replanting and sustainable aquaculture offer opportunities to combine economic development with environmental protection.

We encourage all to support SEPSiL’s course of environmental protection and conservation to ensure a healthy society for people and nature.