Gabon has announced a major agreement with international donors to protect 34,000 square kilometers of Congo Basin rainforest, in what has been described as a “historic” step for environmental conservation.
The deal is valued at $180 million, including $94 million from donors such as the Global Environment Facility and the Bezos Earth Fund, and $86 million in domestic funding over ten years.
The financing will support the creation of new national parks, efforts to curb elephant poaching, and the expansion of eco-tourism, through an innovative funding model that links disbursements to progress in environmental policy reforms.
Maurice Ntsouhi Alogo, who oversees the new conservation plan, said the agreement represents “a critical turning point” in the country’s environmental protection strategy.
The announcement comes at a time when Gabon is facing financial pressures, with national debt expected to reach around 90% of GDP, according to credit-rating agencies.
Similar environmental agreements are gaining momentum globally, with Brazil recently unveiling a comparable deal for the Amazon, while other African nations explore their own partnerships.
