At the break of dawn, a thick mist rises above the canopy of the Lopé national park. The distant cries of mandrills echo through the forest, while a solitary elephant slowly makes its way toward the river. Here, at the heart of Gabon, something essential is unfolding. A silent, yet crucial battle for the future of the global environment.
A green sanctuary at the heart of Africa
With 88% of its territory covered by forests, Gabon is one of the most forested countries on the planet. This small Central African state is home to exceptional biodiversity: more than 700 bird species, forest elephants, gorillas, panthers, and flora that remains largely unexplored. On the surface, the country might appear well preserved. But the reality is more complex.
Gabon is considered a natural “carbon sink.” Its forests absorb approximately 140 million tonnes of CO₂ each year — far more than the country emits. “It is one of the rare countries in the world to have a negative carbon balance,” explains Dr. Mireille Ndong, ecologist at the Université Omar Bongo. “This makes it a strategic player in the fight against climate change.”
But this green wealth is also coveted. Logging, mining, agricultural expansion: the pressures are intensifying.
A stated political will, but a fragile one
For two decades, Gabon has sought to position itself as an African leader in conservation. In 2002, President Omar Bongo Ondimba created 13 national parks covering 11% of the territory. In 2010, his son and successor Ali Bongo launched an ambitious “Gabon Vert” plan, aimed at reconciling economic development with environmental protection.
In 2021, the country became the first in Africa to receive international payments for its efforts to reduce emissions through the preservation of its forests. Norway paid it 17 million dollars under the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI).
But these commitments are being put to the test. Following the military coup of August 2023, political uncertainty weighs on the continuity of environmental policies. “Green commitments must not be the first casualties of institutional upheaval,” warns Jean-René Mbani, environmental activist in Libreville.
The natural resources dilemma
Gabon holds abundant reserves of manganese, oil, and precious timber. These resources account for more than 80% of the country’s exports. “Okoumé wood is our green gold,” says a timber operator from the Lambaréné region. “But quotas are strict. The government wants to avoid overexploitation.”
Yet the temptation is great. Faced with a young population, high unemployment, and an economy dependent on oil, the exploitation of natural resources remains a quick path to growth. “It is a difficult balance,” acknowledges Dr. Ndong. “How do you protect the forest while meeting the country’s urgent economic needs?”
Illegal logging scandals have recently erupted, particularly in the province of Ogooué-Ivindo. Asian companies are accused of circumventing quotas and bribing local officials. The government promises investigations, but trust is wavering.
Local communities at the heart of the transition
In the village of Makokou, in the northeast of the country, residents live on the edge of the Ivindo national park. For several years, they have been participating in ecotourism and reforestation projects. “We learned to make honey, to guide tourists, to preserve the trees,” says Élise, a 26-year-old local resident. “This is our forest. We want it to remain alive for our children.”
These initiatives, supported by NGOs and international institutions, rely on community involvement. But the results are still fragile. Revenue from ecotourism remains low, and the COVID-19 pandemic brought many projects to a brutal halt.
“Without a credible economic alternative, illegal logging will remain a temptation,” warns Bernard Obiang, local coordinator of a conservation project. “People need to see a future in the forest, not just timber to sell.”
Science in the service of the forest
A few kilometres from the city of Franceville, a research centre is attracting the attention of scientists from around the world: the Institut de Recherche en Écologie Tropicale (IRET). There, Gabonese and international researchers study carbon cycles, animal migrations, and the effects of climate change on forest ecosystems.
“We have installed more than 50 sensors in the canopy to measure the photosynthesis and respiration of trees,” explains Professor Alain Koumba. “It is a scientific gold mine. Gabon is a sentinel of the climate.”
The data collected is shared with institutions such as NASA or the Hadley Centre in the United Kingdom. It helps refine global climate models. “Understanding what happens here means understanding what awaits the rest of the world,” insists Professor Koumba.
A global issue, an uncertain future
Gabon stands at a crossroads. Its forest is a global treasure, but also an economic burden. Its political stability is fragile, yet its ecological potential is immense. Its choices will have repercussions far beyond its borders.
“This country can become a model of sustainable development in Africa,” believes Anaïs Lefèvre, environmental policy expert at the UN. “But it requires investment, transparency, and above all, a collective will.”
As the world’s attention turns to major climate conferences, the fate of millions of hectares of tropical forest may well be decided here, in this small Central African country. What if the answer to the global climate crisis lay, in part, at the heart of the Gabonese forest?
