Gabon Infini: Pioneering Forest Conservation in the Congo Basin

Gabon partners with international donors in the 'Gabon Infini' initiative to protect 34,000 sq km of Congo Basin rainforests. The $180 million plan will finance national parks, combat elephant poaching, and boost eco-tourism, promoting a sustainable model that may inspire similar efforts across Africa.

In a groundbreaking partnership, Gabon's government and international donors have unified to safeguard 34,000 square kilometers of the country's Congo Basin rainforests under the initiative 'Gabon Infini'. The $180 million investment, sourced from major donors like the Global Environment Facility and Bezos Earth Fund combined with Gabonese government funding, highlights a shift towards sustainable conservation practices.

The funding model, known as 'Project Finance for Permanence', strategically ties funding release to critical policy changes, setting a precedent as similar agreements emerge in countries like Brazil, Kenya, and Namibia. As 90% of Gabon is cloaked in rainforest, it remains a critical ecological bulwark housing notable populations of African forest elephants and western lowland gorillas.

The initiative, part of a broader fiscal restructuring following a 'debt-for-nature swap', comes amidst financial scrutiny. Former minister Maurice Ntossui Allogo emphasized its significance, while The Nature Conservancy highlights its potential to double the protected rainforest area to 30%. This plan may inspire similar conservation efforts in the Congo basin and across Africa.

(With inputs from agencies.)