Gabon increases investment in biodiversity
The Republic of Gabon has taken further steps to conserve its natural heritage.
The Republic of Gabon boasts an extraordinary natural heritage with almost 90% forest cover and more than half the population of Africa’s critically endangered forest elephants.
The country has made bold commitments to conserve this natural heritage with over 11% of its terrestrial territory and more than 26% of its territorial oceans and Exclusive Economic Zones protected.
Recently the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Gabonese National Parks Agency (ANPN) signed the country’s first ever partnership commitment toward the establishment of management agreements for Ivindo, Loango, Lopé and Mayumba National Parks.
Roadmap towards long-term management
The MoU lays out a 2-year roadmap towards new long-term management agreements for these parks between WCS and ANPN.
The signing is part of a new national policy to diversify management models, foster innovative solutions for sustainable financing, and facilitate the sharing of technical expertise with conservation partners.
According to Omer Ntougou Ndoutoume, Executive Secretary of ANPN the signing of the ANPN–WCS agreement embodies the new political agenda of the President of the Gabonese Republic.
“This means inclusive, diversified management that is resolutely focused on protecting and enhancing the country’s natural capital for the benefit of present and future generations,” says Ndoutoume.
The crucial role of WCS
The WCS has been supporting the government of Gabon in its conservation efforts for almost four decades.
It played a crucial role in the creation of the country’s 13 national parks in 2002, and in the process of creating Gabon’s vast network of Marine Protected Areas in 2017.
This new partnership demonstrates the government’s continued confidence in WCS, reinforces recognition of its enduring role in the country, and consolidates the government’s commitment to the conservation of the country’s ecosystems.
“Together we are moving towards a management model that has proven successful in the Congo Basin and will optimise community engagement and the protection of areas of exceptional biodiversity, at the heart of forests that are of global importance for their role in climate regulation. It’s a process we can only commend,” says Gaspard Abitsi, WCS Gabon country director.
Biodiversity underpins stable ecosystems
Biodiversity underpins stable ecosystems, resilient supply chains and long-term profitability. For mining and extractive companies, investing in environmental protection reduces regulatory risk, prevents costly delays, builds social licence to operate and strengthens ESG credibility with investors.
If you want to know how you can make biodiversity investment work for your company, please contact us.
Image: A family of forest elephants in Gabon. Image credit: Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
Gabon invests in its exceptional biodiversity
