Gabon provides blueprint for protecting oceans

Date:
February 8, 2022
Source:
University of Exeter
Summary:
Gabon's network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provides a
blueprint that could be used in many other countries, experts
say. Since announcing a new MPA network in 2014, Gabon has created
20 protected areas - - increasing protection of Gabonese waters
from less than 1% to 26%.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Gabon's network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provides a blueprint
that could be used in many other countries, experts say.


========================================================================== Since announcing a new MPA network in 2014, Gabon has created 20 protected areas -- increasing protection of Gabonese waters from less than 1%
to 26%.

The new paper -- by Gabonese policymakers, NGOs and researchers from
the University of Exeter -- highlights the lessons from this work and
its relevance elsewhere.

"A combination of factors made this MPA network possible, but a
crucial first step was the creation by President Ali Bongo Ondimba of a government-led initiative called 'Gabon Bleu' in 2013," said Dr Kristian Metcalfe, of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Exeter's Penryn
Campus in Cornwall.

"This sent out a clear signal that the Gabonese government wanted to
develop an MPA network.

"That ensured all sectors -- from government agencies to ocean resource
users - - were engaged in the planning process, and it gave confidence
to external funders and the private sector to support the research that underpins the MPAs.



==========================================================================
Dr Emma Stokes, Wildlife Conservation Society Regional Director for
Central Africa & Gulf of Guinea, added: "This political will and
long-term engagement was vital -- creating a 'tipping point' towards
effective change.

"Collective action has accelerated progress, and the country has now
committed to the 30x30 pledge to protect 30% of its oceans by 2030."
Global MPA coverage is still short of a 10% target set in 2010, partly
due to limited progress in many low-income and middle-income countries.

However, a few of these countries -- including Gabon -- have met or
exceeded international commitments on land and sea.

The MPAs are based on detailed evidence, resulting in an inter-connected network tailored to protect important habitats, as well as globally
important populations of sea turtles and marine mammals, with protected
zones extending from north to south, and from coastal waters to 200
nautical miles offshore.



==========================================================================
The new paper argues that lessons from Gabon can be used to inform
Post-2020 global biodiversity commitments and implementation.

It suggests a four-step approach for countries and donors:
1. Governments must build and maintain their research and
implementation
capacity, ensuring scientific evidence underpins policy decisions.

2. Countries should make public pledges on marine conservation targets,
signalling their commitment to the international community and
potential donors.

3. The conservation community should respond by helping to create or
strengthen the country's environmental agencies either directly or,
if financial safeguards are weak, via international organisations.

4. Each implementation agency should lead on developing national marine
conservation frameworks, working with stakeholders and donors to
produce plans that are ambitious but politically feasible, combining
top-down initiatives with bottom-up approaches as much as possible.

In Gabon, crucial implementation work was led by the national parks
agency, ANPN.

Professor Lee White, Gabon's Minister of Forests, Oceans, Environment
and Climate Change and former Executive Secretary (head) of ANPN, said:
"We learnt from the process that resulted in the creation of Gabon's terrestrial national parks by Omar Bongo in 2007 and were able to provide
the scientific and legal framework to make President Ali Bongo Ondimba's
vision for a sustainable blue economy a reality." Professor Brendan
Godley, of the University of Exeter, added: "By scaling conservation
and fisheries management measures across the entirety of its EEZ, Gabon
has made significant steps to ensure the long-term persistence of its
marine biodiversity and fisheries resources, and should be celebrated
as a global exemplar." The University of Exeter's work was funded by
the UK government's Darwin Initiative.

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========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Kristian Metcalfe, Lee White, Michelle E. Lee, J. Michael Fay,
Gaspard
Abitsi, Richard J. Parnell, Robert J. Smith, Pierre Didier Agamboue,
Jean Pierre Bayet, Jean Herve' Mve Beh, Serge Bongo, Francois
Boussamba, Godefroy De Bruyne, Floriane Cardiec, Emmanuel Chartrain,
Tim Collins, Philip D. Doherty, Angela Formia, Mark Gately,
Micheline Schummer Gnandji, Innocent Ikoubou, Judicael Re'gis Kema
Kema, Koumba Kombila, Pavlick Etoughe Kongo, Jean Churley Manfoumbi,
Sara M. Maxwell, Georges H. Mba Asseko, Catherine M. McClellan,
Gianna Minton, Samyra Orianne Ndjimbou, Guyle`ne Nkoane Ndoutoume,
Jean Noel Bibang Bi Nguema, Teddy Nkizogho, Jacob Nzegoue, Carmen
Karen Kouerey Oliwina, Franck Mbeme Otsagha, Diane Savarit,
Stephen K. Pikesley, Philippe du Plessis, Hugo Rainey, Lucienne
Ariane Diapoma Kingbell Rockombeny, Howard C. Rosenbaum, Dan Segan,
Guy‐Philippe Sounguet, Emma J. Stokes, Dominic Tilley, Raul
Vilela, Wynand Viljoen, Sam B. Weber, Matthew J. Witt, Brendan J.

Godley. Fulfilling global marine commitments; lessons learned
from Gabon.

Conservation Letters, 2022; DOI: 10.1111/conl.12872 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220208105227.htm
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