Nature in Gabon

Gabon lies on the Equator and has about 800 kilometres of coastline. Terra-firme rainforest covers approximately 76% of the country, alongside flooded and swamp forests, about 3,950 square kilometres of mangroves, savannas, rivers, blackwater systems, lakes and coastal habitats. Annual rainfall commonly exceeds 2,000 millimetres, supporting ecosystems that are closely connected across forest, river and sea. Coastal and river ecosystems are especially relevant for mangroves, fisheries, marine turtles, hippopotamuses, migratory birds and shoreline protection. Gabon records more than 1,900 higher plant species, including about 57 endemic and 25 subendemic species. Its fauna includes more than 150 land-mammal species, 19 primate species and more than 600 bird species. Species strongly associated with conservation work include the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), leopard (Panthera pardus) and three pangolin species. The Ivindo area contains 13 threatened freshwater fish species, at least seven Podostemaceae plant species associated with rapids and waterfalls, and the critically endangered slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus). Gabon has 13 terrestrial national parks, established from 2002 onward, covering about 11% of the country’s land. A national park is a protected area in which conservation takes priority and activities such as ecotourism, scientific research and education are regulated. The country also has nine Ramsar Sites, meaning wetlands recognized for international conservation value, and 20 marine protected areas established since 2017: nine marine parks and 11 aquatic reserves. Together, these marine areas cover about 52,759 square kilometres, or approximately 26.2% of Gabon’s maritime waters. Other conservation areas include two arboreta, the Ipassa-Makokou Biosphere Reserve and conservation series within forest concessions. UNESCO recognizes the Lopé-Okanda mixed World Heritage property, listed in 2007, and the Ivindo natural World Heritage property, listed in 2021. The protected-area network covers very different landscapes. Akanda and Pongara combine coastal forest, mangroves, savanna, marine-turtle habitat and important areas for migratory birds. Loango, Mayumba, Petit Loango and Setté Cama include coastal plains, lagoons, mangroves, forests and savannas, with marine turtles, hippopotamuses and forest elephants. Lopé-Okanda contains the transition between rainforest and savanna and the Ogooué Valley, with more than 1,550 recorded plant species. Ivindo is known for old Caesalpinioideae forests, blackwater rivers, rapids and waterfalls. Monts Birougou contains a mosaic of mountains, forests, wetlands and savannas, while the Batéké landscape includes plateau savannas and forest transitions. The main legal framework includes Law 007/2014 on environmental protection and Law 003/2007 on national parks. Activities that may damage fauna, flora or habitats can require prior authorization and an EIES, an environmental and social impact assessment. Park and area management plans define authorized and prohibited activities, monitoring, control and budgets. Buffer zones are commonly around five kilometres wide, but their exact rules depend on the relevant plan. Aquatic management plans are generally reviewed at least every three years, while some reserves may be reviewed annually. Current institutional names and responsibilities should be checked for the specific area because the transition involving ANPN and ANPNP after 2017 created inconsistent terminology in some legal and operational documents. In current administration, ANPN is the principal protected-area agency, while the Ministère des Eaux et Forêts and DGEPN also have relevant responsibilities. Twenty-seven animal species were reported as fully protected in the 2019 Sixth National Report, and five plant species were placed under a 20-year protection measure. Full protection generally prohibits hunting, capture, trade and movement of the protected species, with exceptions requiring scientific authorization. CITES, the international system regulating trade in endangered species, is relevant to the grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus), all three pangolin species and other listed wildlife. Guibourtia species, including kevazingo, are subject to CITES controls. The current full species list should be verified against the applicable legal text before a planned collection, transport, sale or export. Customary use rights can cover personal or collective needs such as firewood, non-timber forest products, medicinal and food plants, subsistence farming, hunting, fishing, paths and access to water. In the rural forest domain, these uses may be available under applicable rules. In permanent state protected areas, customary hunting and fishing are generally prohibited, while marine-park buffer areas may allow customary fishing and cultural or tourism activities through community contracts and the relevant management plan. Conservation rules therefore depend on the exact zone, activity, species and management document. A customary practice does not automatically authorize commercial use, wildlife trade or activity inside a restricted zone. Entry and activities in protected areas follow the applicable park or area plan and normally require coordination with ANPN or an authorized provider. Since 1 January 2026, the ANPN access form, called the Fiche d’accès, is mandatory for tourist activities. Scientific work requires written authorization. Ecotourism can include wildlife observation, trekking, river and waterfall visits, beaches and turtle-nesting sites, as well as cultural interpretation. Sport or harvest fishing remains subject to permits and local rules, and it cannot directly target fully protected species. Access seasons, available services and fees vary by area; no single nationwide public tariff applies safely to every protected site, so current costs and conditions should be confirmed with ANPN or the relevant provider. Education and training include local interpretation connected with park plans and UNESCO projects. The Lopé ecomuseum combines education, conservation and history and is currently unique within the 13-park network. ENEF provides formal training related to forestry, fisheries, fauna, protected areas and the environment. Community livelihood, youth and women’s initiatives have also been linked to ecotourism and conservation projects. Major pressures include poaching and commercial bushmeat trade, illegal wildlife trafficking, logging and roads, agriculture and urban expansion, oil and mining impacts, pollution, spills, gas flaring, trawling, overfishing, mangrove degradation, coastal change and invasive species. Climate-sensitive coastal ecosystems face additional pressure. Human-elephant conflict remains a recognized issue; Gabon’s 2018 national strategy and GPS-collar work document measures to address it. Conservation can conflict with extraction, fishing, agriculture and infrastructure, as well as with customary access. Park law provides for consultation and contracts for managing local land-use areas, and management plans are expected to take customary rights into account. Co-management feasibility work has involved Lopé, Ivindo, Loango and Mayumba, while renewed local consultation structures have been reported for Lopé and Ivindo.