The Gabon has taken a significant step towards protecting its forests, coastlines, and wildlife with the adoption of its new Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (SPANB) 2022-2030. After several days of work, the national validation atelier for SPANB closed in Libreville on Tuesday.

The new document sets a target to protect 30% of the country’s territory, with the aim of implementing the commitments made by 196 countries during the Kunming-Montréal agreement. The Gabon is focusing on four major priorities: conserving at least 30% of its land and marine areas; restoring degraded ecosystems; reducing threats to biodiversity such as hunting, deforestation, and pollution; and mobilizing sustainable funding for conservation.

The consolidated SPANB will be transmitted to the Government for final validation and then deposited with the Secretariat Executive of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB) to officially commit the Gabon to international efforts.

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

The Gabon has 88% forest coverage and 13 national parks, earning it a reputation as a country with high biodiversity. The SPANB 2022-2030 must balance economic development, resource exploitation, and conservation.

But concerns remain about funding: without a dedicated budget and genuine involvement from local authorities, businesses, and riverine communities, the strategy may be hollow.