Gabon has unveiled a $180 million, decade-long conservation program aimed at doubling the size of its protected forest areas and strengthening the country’s role as a global biodiversity stronghold. The initiative, announced by the Ministry of Water, Forests, the Sea and Environment, seeks to expand protected coverage from 15% to 30% of national territory while enhancing wildlife protection and supporting sustainable economic development.
The program will receive $94 million in external financing, including contributions from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Bezos Earth Fund, while the Gabonese government will allocate $86 million over the next ten years. Funding will be delivered under the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) model, which ties disbursements to the government’s progress on environmental reforms and conservation targets.
Key objectives include establishing new protected zones, curbing elephant poaching, and developing ecotourism as part of Gabon’s broader green-economy strategy. With forests covering 90% of the country’s landmass, Gabon is home to more than half of Africa’s remaining forest elephants as well as significant populations of western lowland gorillas, making conservation efforts vital to preserving global biodiversity.
The initiative builds on Gabon’s growing portfolio of environmental commitments, including a $500 million debt-for-nature swap concluded in 2023 to safeguard coastal ecosystems. It also aligns with broader international priorities in the Congo Basin, where European governments and multilateral partners pledged €2.5 billion during COP30 to support sustainable forest management across the region.
Officials say the new program will help reinforce ecosystem resilience, support rural livelihoods, and consolidate Gabon’s position as one of Africa’s leading conservation champions.
