Conservation before the crisis - an opportunity in Gabon

Abstract

Much of the news we hear regarding the conservation situation in Africa portrays a continent in crisis. Increasing human population, decreasing agricultural production, loss of forest cover and mounting debt all point to a bleak future. Even in countries where conservationists have been most active the black rhino is near extinction and the elephant population is crashing. The conservation community has responded with last-ditch conservation efforts, commonly known as firefighting’ or band-aid conservation’. This paper examines an opportunity to practice conservation before the crisis’ in Gabon, a country with time on its side to address its long-term conservation and development needs. © 1990, Fauna and Flora International. All rights reserved.