Gabon//- The Gabonese government, through the Ministry of Water and Forests, in charge of Human-Wildlife Conflict, and African Parks have signed a Priority Support Plan (PSP) to strengthen the management of Moukalaba-Doudou National Park and the Wonga-Wongué Presidential Reserve, marking African Parks’ first official partnership in Gabon and a new phase of support for two natural areas of significant conservation importance.
This agreement follows an invitation from Gabon’s National Parks Agency (ANPN) to African Parks to assess the potential of these two protected areas for a long-term collaborative partnership. African Parks conducted a feasibility study in consultation with the ANPN, government institutions, conservation partners, funding bodies and local stakeholders.
This initiative is part of Gabon’s National Growth and Development Plan to increase the sustainable management of its network of protected areas, drawing on technical and financial partnerships tailored to national priorities for conservation and sustainable use.
Moukalaba-Doudou National Park and the Wonga-Wongué Presidential Reserve protect a unique meeting point between the African equatorial rainforest and the Atlantic Ocean. Comprising tropical forest, savannah, rivers, wetlands, mangroves, coastal lagoons and beaches, these ecosystems are home to forest elephant, forest buffalo, western lowland gorilla, chimpanzees, mandrills, leopard, manatees, sea turtles and a wide variety of additional marine species.
This Priority Support Plan aims to strengthen the day-to-day management of the two protected areas, support staff and infrastructure, improve operational systems, engage local communities and lay the foundations for a long-term management partnership. Initially, the focus will be on establishing a clear baseline for these two landscapes, assessing ecological priorities and community involvement alongside operational, staffing and infrastructure requirements, and implementing the actions needed to strengthen their management.
This work comes at a crucial time for Gabon. As the country continues to diversify its economy beyond the extractive industries, well-managed protected areas can support the country’s sustainable development priorities by protecting healthy ecosystems and creating opportunities related to fisheries, ecotourism, scientific research, nature-based finance and conservation-compatible businesses.
This partnership will place a strong emphasis on working with communities living around the two protected areas. An environmental and social due diligence process will guide the project’s design, drawing on consultation and robust safeguards for human rights and social protection. Conflicts between humans and wildlife, particularly those involving elephants and the destruction of crops, are among the priority issues that need to be better understood and addressed.
The partners commend the long-standing commitment of Gabonese conservation leaders, government institutions and supporters who have helped to maintain focus and investment in the country’s protected areas. They also acknowledge the early contributions of Edith McBean and the Rob Walton Foundation, which have helped to bring the project to this stage.
Omer Ntougou Ndoutoume, Executive Secretary of Gabon’s National Parks Agency (ANPN) said: “Gabon’s national parks constitute an exceptional heritage, the preservation of which relies on rigorous management and strong partnerships. With this Priority Support Plan, we are taking a new step towards strengthening conservation and enhancement in Moukalaba-Doudou and Wonga-Wongué, whilst ensuring that local communities are fully taken into account.”
Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks, added: “Gabon possesses an extraordinary natural heritage and demonstrates a strong commitment to conserving it. This Priority Support Plan provides an opportunity to work together to better understand these landscapes, support their management and identify future needs. We are honoured by the trust placed in African Parks and look forward to the work ahead.”
