Gabon Partners with African Parks to Strengthen Conservation in Moukalaba-Doudou and Wonga-Wongué

LIBREVILLE, Gabon — Oct. 28, 2026 — The Gabonese government, through the Ministry of Water and Forests, in charge of Human-Wildlife Conflict, has entered into a Priority Support Plan (PSP) with non-profit conservation organization African Parks. The agreement aims to strengthen the management of Moukalaba-Doudou National Park and the Wonga-Wongué Presidential Reserve, marking African Parks’ first official partnership within the country.

The agreement follows an invitation from Gabon’s National Parks Agency (ANPN) to African Parks to assess the potential for long-term collaborative management. African Parks conducted a feasibility study in consultation with ANPN, local stakeholders, government institutions, and funding partners. The initiative forms part of Gabon’s broader National Growth and Development Plan to expand the sustainable management of its network of protected areas.

The protected areas form a unique ecological junction where the African equatorial rainforest meets the Atlantic Ocean. Comprising tropical forests, savannahs, mangroves, rivers, and coastal lagoons, the region hosts key species including forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, mandrills, leopards, forest buffalos, manatees, and sea turtles.

The Priority Support Plan will focus on establishing clear ecological baselines, expanding support for infrastructure and staffing, improving operational systems, and addressing human-wildlife conflicts—particularly elephant crop destruction in surrounding communities. As Gabon shifts to diversify its economy beyond extractive industries, well-managed protected areas are expected to generate long-term opportunities in ecotourism, fisheries, scientific research, and nature-based finance.

“Gabon’s national parks constitute an exceptional heritage, the preservation of which relies on rigorous management and strong partnerships,” said Omer Ntougou Ndoutoume, Executive Secretary of the ANPN. “With this Priority Support Plan, we are taking a new step towards strengthening conservation and enhancement in Moukalaba-Doudou and Wonga-Wongué, whilst ensuring that local communities are fully taken into account”.

Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks, stated that the organization is honored by the trust placed in them, adding that the partnership provides a vital opportunity to better understand these landscapes and support their future management needs.

Initial contributions helping bring the project to fruition were acknowledged from Edith McBean and the Rob Walton Foundation. African Parks currently manages 24 protected areas across 13 African countries, encompassing more than 20 million hectares.

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