Parks Gabon ii: Reinforcing the Institutional Capacity of Gabon's National Parks Service

The purpose of this project is to conserve Gabons wildlife heritage by transforming the Gabon National Parks Agency (ANPN) into a premier African parks agency within five years, with adaptive capacity thereafter.

Through this Agreement, ANPN, FWS, and government and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners aim to safeguard Gabons large forest elephant population; ensure a future for humankinds closest relatives, the great apes of the Congo Basin; maintain the ecological resilience of tropical rain forests and forest biodiversity; and preserve the ocean giants and protect ecologically important marine ecosystems.

To help conserve Gabons rich heritage, results-oriented, field-based objectives and activities have been developed to enhance capacity for adaptive park and peripheral zone management; create and secure parks and reserves; and set and enforce standards to reduce the impacts of extractive industries. ..The project will:.

Enhance ANPNs ability to establish itself as a premier African parks agency by achieving sufficient organizational capacity so that management systems meet international best practice standards, including ISO certification, by 2019; implementing key components from National Park management plans; garnering support by communities for ANPN conservation activities at local and national scales; and developing a sustainable tourism sector that contributes to the national economy and promotes long-term political support for conservation at local and national scales. .

Help to support a protected area system dedicated to wildlife security and ecosystem health and diversity by establishing new protected areas where the existing conservation landscape does not provide sufficient protection coverage for Gabons natural heritage; securing protected areas from poaching, encroachment, and other forms of illegal activity; and providing leadership for the development of inter-ministerial and regional wildlife security, natural res