Gabon's network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provides a blueprint that could be used in many other countries, experts say.
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.
Read more at University of Exeter
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