The project operates within the Gamba Protected Areas Complex, which includes 2 of Gabon’s 13 national parks (650,000 ha), 500,000 ha of sparsely inhabited land in between, stretching along 200 kilometres of coastline.
The population (9,500 inhabitants) resides mainly in the town of Gamba (7,500 inhabitants), located at the very heart of the complex, and across 30 surrounding villages. The complex features great ecosystem diversity, and consequently very diverse wildlife: gorillas, elephants and manatees on land, and four species of marine turtles and humpback whales along the coast.
This project constitutes the second phase of an initial two-year programme carried out in 2006 and 2007, with support from the FFEM.
It aims to continue and expand the activities successfully tested during the first programme, while helping Ibonga move towards greater professionalism, diversify its resources, and begin achieving financial self-sufficiency.
