Through the efforts of the NGO Conservation Justice, 9200 students from three provinces in Gabon have been trained in best practices for wildlife preservation during the 2023-2024 school year. This initiative aims to raise environmental awareness among younger generations to ensure a sustainable future.
As part of its « Wildlife Brigades » program, the NGO Conservation Justice conducted environmental education campaigns in 56 schools across the Ogooué-Ivindo, Ogooué-Lolo, and Haut-Ogooué provinces. In total, 9200 students aged 6 to 17 were sensitized to wildlife preservation issues during the 2023-2024 school year.
The goal of this initiative is to educate young people from an early age on the importance of biodiversity conservation. The sensitization sessions, tailored to the children’s age, emphasized concrete actions everyone can take to protect local ecosystems and endangered species. By encouraging students to become environmental ambassadors, the NGO hopes to see this knowledge spread within families and local communities.
The Wildlife Brigades, created in partnership with the Ministry of Water and Forests and supported by several partners such as Rougier Gabon, Somivab, the GAW company, CEB, and the Lékédi Biodiversity Foundation, have multiple roles: informing, sensitizing, educating, and monitoring illegal natural resource trafficking. Since February 2024, the Lékédi brigade has joined this network, further strengthening conservation efforts in the region.
In addition to students, local communities are also targeted by these campaigns. Meetings and workshops help raise awareness among residents about the harmful consequences of poaching and promote environmentally friendly practices. Conservation Justice also provides legal support to local populations, informing them about the legal aspects of human-wildlife conflicts and possible recourses.
Supporting these actions, a new poster listing the fully protected species in Gabon was recently published with funding from the European Union. Printed in 10,000 copies, this poster is widely distributed to local communities, providing them with a valuable reference for biodiversity protection.
The Water and Forests administration, supported by Conservation Justice and several other local NGOs, continues to promote initiatives aimed at preserving the environment and ensuring a sustainable future for future generations.
Fanta Mabo
