State/African Regional - Other Economic Support Funds (ESF) Projects/Programs: Mangroves Rehabilitation Project in Gabon

Program Objectives:

a)     Rehabilitate critical mangrove areas through reforestation/replanting.  

b)     Initiate an awareness and education campaign focused on educating local communities on the ecosystemic benefits of mangroves protection.

c)     Preparatory work in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, civil society, and local NGOs leading to the adoption of a law to protect, preserve and restore mangrove ecosystems in Gabon.

The project kick-off for each activity should be as follows:

1. Planting of mangrove trees in critical areas

-         Identify deforested mangrove areas that are most critical to flood prevention

-         Coordinate with local communities to plant new mangrove trees

2. An awareness campaign in local communities

-         Once the critical mangrove areas are identified, an educational campaign will begin in those communities to sensitize them on the importance of preserving the mangroves for economic and security reasons.

3. Collaboration with the Gabonese government on a law protecting and preserving critical mangrove forests.

-         [The implementer will form] a working group of NGOs, civil society, scientists, and the government to identify opportunities for improvement in existing Gabonese law and draft a new law that addresses those weaknesses.

-         the working group will facilitate the presentation of the new law to the appropriate governmental authorities to be considered for law.