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In 2000, Lee White, a WCS researcher, played a key role in the
resolution of conflict between conservationists and loggers working
inside the Lopé Reserve in Gabon, which resulted in an
agreement to create Gabon's first National Park. At the same time,
with encouragement from the Minister of Forests and Water at the
time, Dr. Richard Onouviet, WCS and WWF launched the 'protected
areas evaluation project' - which aimed to survey all remote areas
in Gabon considered to be conservation priorities in order to
help the government develop a National Park system. Also at this
time, Mike Fay's megatransect crossed Gabon from Minkébé
in the NE to the Atlantic coast of Petit Loango, discovering new
sites such as the Langoué Bai below the spectacular waterfalls
on the Ivindo.
In April 2001 WCS launched the Langoué project, in collaboration
with CI, to attempt to study and protect this key wilderness area
and create the Langoué-Ivindo National Park. In early 2002
WCS formed a partnership with SCD (Société de Conservation
et Deveolppement) to create 'Operation Loango' - in the Gamba
complex, a demonstration project with the prime objective to conserve
unique ecosystems on the Atlantic coast of Gabon by developing
ecotourism.
From April to August 2002 Drs. Mike Fay and Lee White worked
closely with President El Hadj Omar Bongo and his staff, as well
as the WWF Gabon Program, to design a National Park System for
Gabon which will be announced at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Minnesota Zoo's Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Grant Program donated
$500 to the Wildlife Conservation Society's Gabon Habitat Conservation
efforts to help purchase land for establishment of protected
areas in Gabon in honor of J. Michael Fay.
For more information visit:
http://wcs.org/home/wild/Africa/gnp-wcsingabon/
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