Published: April 15, 2026
Grand Cape Mount County – Save My Future Foundation (SAMFU), in partnership with the Environmental Justice Foundation, is making measurable progress in strengthening community-based sea turtle conservation across six coastal communities within the Lake Piso Multiple Use Reserve.
The initiative—focused on building local capacity, raising awareness and improving monitoring systems—is already yielding early results, including the discovery and protection of a sea turtle nesting site and the deployment of trained community patrollers.
Awareness Campaign Expands Reach
As part of its outreach strategy, SAMFU conducted six town hall meetings across Bombojah, Falie, Latia, Sembehun, Robertsport and Bomie, engaging 61 participants drawn from fishing communities, including fishermen, fishmongers, sea chiefs, youth leaders and other residents.
The sessions emphasized the ecological and economic importance of protecting endangered marine species such as sea turtles, dolphins and manatees, while also addressing growing concerns over human-wildlife interactions in local fishing zones.
To reinforce messaging, 65 awareness materials were produced and distributed, significantly increasing community outreach from a 10% baseline to 75%.
Local Patrol System Strengthened
In a move to deepen community ownership, SAMFU recruited and trained 12 volunteers—two from each community—to serve as sea turtle patrollers.
The volunteers underwent a three-day capacity-building training focused on identifying, documenting and reporting sea turtle activity. Although the TIMBY mobile application was not deployed, participants received hands-on training in mobile reporting techniques and were equipped with standardized data collection templates.
Monitoring Yields Early Conservation Gains
Following the training, all 12 patrollers were deployed and have since conducted daily beach monitoring across the six communities.
Since Jan. 19, 2026, a total of 180 patrol visits have been recorded—an indication of growing local commitment to conservation efforts.
The monitoring led to the identification of a sea turtle nesting site in Bombojah, where approximately 58 eggs were safely relocated and are now under community protection.
Threats Persist Amid Progress
Despite the gains, challenges remain.
Patrollers in Sembehun reported an incident involving a community member allegedly hunting sea turtles and harvesting eggs for sale or consumption—highlighting persistent threats to marine biodiversity in the area.
At the same time, monitoring activities have also documented sightings of other marine species, including humpback dolphins and manatees, as reported by local fishermen.
Sustaining Momentum
SAMFU says it remains committed to working alongside coastal communities and stakeholders to sustain monitoring efforts and strengthen long-term conservation measures within the Lake Piso landscape.
The organization views the growing involvement of local residents as critical to protecting endangered marine species and ensuring the sustainability of Liberia’s coastal ecosystems.
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