Gabon Sets Course for Biodiversity Protection with New National Strategy

The Gabon has taken a significant step forward in protecting its forests, coastlines, and wildlife. After several days of work, the national validation meeting for the Gabon’s National Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity (SPANB) 2022-2030 closed on Tuesday in Libreville.

This new document outlines a roadmap to protect at least 30% of the country’s territory. The strategy is seen as ‘the country’s roadmap to guide public policies, strengthen ecosystem protection, and ensure the sustainable management of its exceptional biological heritage.’

The Gabon aims to translate the commitments made by 196 countries at the Kunming-Montréal agreement into national action. In practice, this means focusing on four key priorities by 2030: conserving at least 30% of land, coastal areas, and marine territories; restoring degraded ecosystems; reducing threats to biodiversity such as poaching, deforestation, and pollution; and mobilizing sustainable funding for conservation.

The SPANB has been consolidated after incorporating the latest recommendations from stakeholders and will be submitted to the Government for final validation. It will then be deposited with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to officially commit the Gabon to international efforts.

However, Mme Tsayi Mouvagha, coordinator of the strategy, notes that the next step is to popularize the strategy among administrations, the private sector, communities, and civil society to ensure its operational deployment across the entire national territory.

This new strategy is crucial for Gabon, which is considered a country with high biodiversity value. With 88% forest coverage and 13 national parks, the Gabon needs a clear roadmap to balance economic development, resource exploitation, and conservation. But the question remains: will the necessary resources be mobilized without a dedicated budget and genuine involvement from local authorities, businesses, and communities?