GEF8

The project, “São Tomé e Príncipe’s Intact Forests — the Obô Natural Parks and Their Buffer Zones: A Treasure to Conserve and Restore,” aims to protect, restore, and sustainably manage the remaining pristine forests within the Obô Natural Parks and their surrounding buffer zones. It focuses on conserving exceptional biodiversity, safeguarding ecosystem services, and enhancing local livelihoods through sustainable practices, thereby preserving São Tomé and Príncipe’s natural heritage for future generations.

The "Developing Biodiversity and Biocarbon Finance Instruments for Conserving Forests in Equatorial Guinea" project aims to establish innovative financial mechanisms that link biodiversity conservation and forest carbon management with improved livelihood opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). The project seeks to leverage financial tools and markets to promote sustainable forest use, biodiversity protection, and climate change mitigation while ensuring equitable benefits for IPLCs.

[to facilitate conservation of natural resources, local development, food security and climate change mitigation ]

The "Sustainable Management of the Mayombe, Oubangui, and Maï Ndombe Tropical Forest Landscapes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)" aims to promote integrated landscape-level conservation and sustainable use of vital forest ecosystems. The project focuses on balancing ecological integrity with social and economic development, addressing climate change mitigation while supporting local livelihoods, food security, and natural resource management.

Integrated Community-based Management of High-Value Forest Ecosystems

The "Forests and Biodiversity Conservation Program in the Central African Republic (CAR) – Integrated Community-based Management of High-Value Forest Ecosystems" aims to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable use of critical forest landscapes through community-driven management strategies.

The project "Strengthening Governance and Ecosystem Connectivity for Biodiversity Conservation and Improved Livelihoods in the Dja Landscape" focuses on enhancing governance frameworks and maintaining ecological corridors within the Dja River landscape, a vital transboundary area in Central Africa. Its goal is to conserve biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem connectivity, and promote sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

Focus area: Maiombe forest ecosystem conservation

São Tomé and Príncipe is a small island state in the Gulf of Guinea, located off the west coast of Central Africa. Though outside the core Congo Basin forest block, the islands’ ecosystems are ecologically connected to the Basin through shared marine currents, migratory species, and climatic patterns. The islands are recognized for exceptional levels of endemism, particularly among plants and birds, and harbor globally significant terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems.

Equatorial Guinea, though small in size, contains ecologically significant forest, coastal, and island ecosystems within the Congo Basin region. Its mainland territory, Río Muni, forms part of the western Congo Basin forest block, while the islands of Bioko and Annobón host unique and endemic biodiversity of global importance.

The Central African Republic (CAR) occupies a strategically important portion of the northern Congo Basin ecological region, forming a transition zone between dense tropical forests in the south and savanna landscapes in the north. This positioning gives CAR high ecological value, with forests that support significant biodiversity, provide essential ecosystem services, and contribute to regional climate regulation and transboundary conservation.

Cameroon’s exceptional ecological diversity has earned it the title “Africa in miniature”, reflecting the wide range of environments found within its borders—from Atlantic coastal lowlands and dense tropical rainforests to savannas and mountainous regions. As a core country within the Congo Basin rainforest biome, Cameroon plays a central role in regional biodiversity conservation and landscape connectivity.