Landscapes
Gulf of Guinea Landscape

At the meeting point of warm currents from the north and colder waters from southern Africa, the territorial waters of Gabon and Congo cover rich ecosystems, crucial for many endangered species of sharks and rays, whales, and dolphins. Faced with acute threats from overexploitation of resources, Gabon embarked on a successful protection program in 2015. Congo subsequently initiated a similar program. WCS is a long-standing partner in the marine conservation efforts of both countries.

Nearly 10% of the world’s Humpback Whales breed and calve on the region’s continental shelf

Over 70 species of shark and ray have been identified, many of them critically endangered

The livelihoods of almost 500,000 people is threatened by illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing Green and Hawksbill Turtles have only 2 coastal feeding grounds in Central Africa: one in Gabon, the other in Congo

While Congo committed to marine conservation and fisheries management in 2017, creating its 3 first MPAs in 2022, neighboring Gabon has become a model to follow in the region with the creation of 20 marine protected areas (MPAs) covering 26% of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in 2017.

The deep-water substrate of the Mayumba-Conkouati-Douli transboundary complex supports important populations of large pelagic fish and cetaceans, via the biologically rich edge of the continental shelf, to the shallow waters of the continental shelf itself. Regional collaboration is essential to effectively protect the marine wildlife of both countries.

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OUR APPROACH

INSTITUTIONAL AND CAPACITY-BUILDING SUPPORT

In addition to a legal framework, strengthening marine conservation requires working with a wide range of stakeholders. WCS supports governmental actors, local NGOs and communities in taking on their role in the sustainable management of the resources on which they depend, and provides them with the tools they need to do so.

PROMOTING SCIENCE-LED STRATEGIES

Involved in research in Congo and Gabon since 2001 and 2004, in partnership with the University of Exeter, the WCS contributes to informed management plans through indicators that support monitoring, evaluation and policy development, and by providing evidence-based best practices across the transboundary landscape.

NCREASING AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Communities’ engagement relies on functional MPAs, coupled with livelihood support tools, social safeguards and effective management of Community Fishing Zones and Artisanal Fishing Cooperatives, as well as awareness raising efforts to ensure their understanding of and contribution to the sustainable use of resources

DASHBOARD

To learn more about this landscape, click here to visit WCS’s Impact Platform to have an overview of our portfolio of Nature’s Strongholds and find metrics that measure our impact on the world’s wildlife and wild places.

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