Free, Prior, Informed Consent and Protected Area Creation in Gabon Le consentement libre, informé, préalable et la création d’une aire protégée au Gabon Abstract / Résumé EN – Gabon is committed to increasing nature protection by 30% by 2030, in line with the Global Biodiversity Framework. In this context, a new consultation process has been launched around the Plateaux Batéké National Park, using the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) approach. A total of 51 interviews were conducted, and a combined thematic and quantitative analysis was carried out to compare the consultation process used in 2002 with that of 2022. The results show that, although the consultation is well-intentioned, the conditions do not currently allow for a meaningful and effective consultation process. FR – Le Gabon s’est engagé à accroître la protection de la nature à hauteur de 30 % d’ici 2030, conformément au Cadre mondial de la biodiversité. Dans ce cadre, une nouvelle consultation a été lancée a...
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Characterization of Beach Seine Fishing in the Mandji-Etimboué Aquatic Reserve (Gabon) Caractérisation de la pêche à la senne de plage dans la Réserve Aquatique de Mandji-Etimboué (Gabon) Abstract / Résumé EN – The conservation of marine biodiversity and the establishment of aquatic protected areas have become a global challenge. Thus, the continued use of non-selective fishing gear requires a comprehensive and ongoing assessment. With this in mind, the catch rates and socio-economic aspects of beach seine fishing in the Mandji-Etimboué Aquatic Reserve (AR) were examined using landing monitoring as a methodological approach. The results showed that the average catch per unit effort (CPUE) of beach purse seiners is 393.29 kg/seine haul . Comparative analysis between CPUE in 2017 and 2021 showed a decrease of 490.9 kg/fishing trip in the rainy season and an increase of 5.08 kg/fishing trip in the dry season. The decrease in fishing effort and increase in CPUE in this Mandji-Etimb...
Length-weight relationships of 13 fish species from Akanda National Park in Gabon, Central Africa English This study provides the length-weight relationships (LWRs) for 13 fish species belonging to 10 families. Samples were collected in the mangrove area of Akanda National Park (ANP) in Gabon between May 2017 and March 2018 with fishing trammel gillnets (15 m long and 1.10 m high, 100 mm large mesh outer layers, and one 10, 27, and 40 mm small mesh each net). Fish total length and total weight were measured, with the precision of 1 mm and 1 g, respectively. The LWRs parameters for the 13 fish species had not yet been reported in FishBase for Central Africa. Our study provides large size ranges for Monodactylus sebae and Pseudotolithus senegalensis LWRs for Central Africa. The determination coefficient (r²) between total length and total body weight ranged from 0.946 ( Pellonula leonensis ) to 0.999 ( Pseudotolithus senegalensi...
Real-time alerts from AI-enabled camera traps using the Iridium satellite network : A case-study in Gabon, Central Africa.
English Gabon, a Central African country, has long proven to be a fruitful testing ground for camera trap technology. The wealth of data generated means that there are large datasets from various projects. In this study, they built the real-time alert system by modifying standard camera traps (Bushnell™) ready to use. The system uses communication through the Iridium satellite network, it works even in remote areas without a telephone signal or without reliable Wi-Fi. The results show that the alert system can work for at least 3 months in the absence of humans when capturing a median of 17.23 images per day. The median time difference between taking images and receiving an alert was about 7,35 min, although some outliers showed delays of 5 days or more when the system was incorrectly installed initially and unable to connect to the Iridium satellite network. These models of artificial intelligence and the addition of other sensors such as microphones will expand the potential of...
Fulfilling global marine commitments; lessons learned from Gabon
English As nations assess the progress made over the past decade in addressing the factors that influence direct pressures on biodiversity and in formulating new policies and strategies for the coming decade, Gabon can look back on a more than positive record. Gabon created a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in 2017. This network far exceeds the 10% target set in 2010. The implementation of such an initiative has been possible in Gabon thanks to several stakeholders. Indeed, a consortium of policy makers and practitioners helped implementing a comprehensive and ecologically representative network of 20 MPAs. To achieve this, it was important for the country to create a national framework, build long-term stakeholder support, and focus on research that guides implementation and policy. Then, it was necessary to outline a four-step approach that countries and donors could use as an example to help meet international commitments. Keywords Aichi biodiversity targets, conserva...
Nationwide abundance and distribution of African forest elephants across Gabon using non-invasive SNP genotyping
English To better know African forest elephant ( Loxodonta cyclotis ) abondance and repartition, a study was done throughout Gabon. To that end, elephant dungs were systematically collected at 18 sites across Gabon. Then, a total of 4058 dung samples were collected, from which 2370 allowed to estimate elephant density at 0.38 per km 2 . Results also showed that Gabon is a forest elephant stronghold, with a population size of 95110 and a spatial distribution covering 250782 km 2 . Furthermore, protected areas and anthropogenic pressures do not seem to be good predictors of elephant density in this study. Key words: African forest elephant, Density estimation, Gabon, Loxodonta cyclotis, Non-invasive genetic, sampling, Single nucleotide polymorphism, Spatial capture-recapture The following persons from the ANPN Cellule Scientifique were part of this study research team: S. Bourgeois, H. G. Bikang Bi Ateme, et Simira Banga Daouda. The field work took place in the following...
Anaesthesia of three giant pangolins (Smutsia gigantea) in pristine tropical rainforests
English With giant pangolins under severe threat due to increasing demand for their meat and scales, it seems essential to study their ecological requirements in order to gather more information for their conservation. This paper explores a method that involved anaesthetising and fitting three individuals (two males and one female) with tags and global positioning systems. The results obtained support the use of ketamine in combination with medetomidine to immobilize giant pangolins. This method will help to collect more biological, geographical distribution, and habitat association data on the giant pangolins. Français Anesthésie de trois pangolins géants ( Smutsia gigantea ) dans des forêts tropicales vierges Face à la forte menace qui pèse sur les pangolins géants en raison d'une demande croissante de leur viande et leurs écailles, il semble essentiel d’étudier leurs besoins écologiques afin d’élargir les informations indispensables pour leur conservation. Cet article e...