Community-Based Protection of Feliciadamia stenocarpa on Monts Konossou, Guinea

The Community-Based Protection of Feliciadamia stenocarpa on Monts Konossou project marks a historic step in Guinea’s efforts to safeguard one of the world’s rarest plant species.

Implemented by the Club des Amis de Guéckédou (CAG) with funding from BirdLife International under the Rio Tinto Small Grants Programme, this initiative focuses on protecting the critically endangered Feliciadamia stenocarpa, a species endemic to the Monts Konossou massif in southern Guinea.

The project trained and equipped ten eco-guards to conduct species surveillance, raise awareness among local communities, and report on threats such as illegal tree cutting and bushfires. In parallel, community sensitization campaigns reached dozens of villages surrounding the Monts Konossou landscape, building local ownership of conservation efforts.

A community nursery was established to propagate over 200 native seedlings, including Feliciadamia stenocarpa, for restoration of degraded habitats. The project also initiated advocacy efforts aimed at securing official recognition of the Monts Konossou as a Biosphere Reserve and Protected Area—a key step toward long-term biodiversity protection.

Beyond its immediate conservation goals, the project has inspired a movement of youth and local leaders committed to defending Guinea’s unique natural heritage. This initiative demonstrates how local stewardship and scientific collaboration can work hand in hand to preserve irreplaceable species and ecosystems.