The ecosystem covered by this project is representative of the Congo Basin tropical forest. This forest is currently relatively well preserved in Gabon, thanks both to the low population density within these forests and to the Gabonese government’s proactive policy on establishing National Parks.
Indeed, 13 National Parks have so far been established by the government. Covering around 13% of the national territory, they provide relatively effective protection for Gabon’s forests.
In return, park management has so far given little consideration to the question of local communities’ rights and their participation in park management.
In response to this issue, the PPI project implemented by Brainforest plans to support at least 20 communities in their involvement in park management, particularly regarding their roles within the management structure and their usage rights.
The modalities for local community involvement will be defined in partnership with the authorities responsible for National Park management.
The project’s intervention area therefore covers four Gabonese national parks (Minkébé, Waka, Pongara, Moukalaba-Doudou), totalling nearly 1,400,000 hectares.
30 communities, representing around 1,000 people, live within or near these National Parks.
