top of page

Impact of Forest Concessions on Planetary Health in Gabon

M. Visintini | March 2023

Gabon, located in Central Africa within the Congo Basin, boasts a territory that is 88% covered by rainforest [2]. This vast green expanse not only plays a critical role in carbon sequestration, absorbing approximately 140 million tons of CO2 annually [1] but also serves as a sanctuary for a rich biodiversity. The conservation efforts in Gabon began in earnest in 2002, spurred by Lee White, a conservationist from the United Kingdom who currently serves as the Minister of Water, Forests, the Sea, and Environment [2] These efforts have led to 22% of the country being designated as protected areas, a testament to Gabon's commitment to preserving its natural heritage [2].
The Role and Impact of Forest Concessions

Presented here are several maps of Gabon sourced from the Global Forest Watch, providing insightful visuals into the country's ecological status. The first map highlights the Forest Landscape Integrity, showcasing a generally high level of preservation across much of the nation, with exceptions noted in some inland regions. The second map details biodiversity intactness as of 2021, revealing that biodiversity levels remain considerably high. Lastly, the third map delineates protected areas as of 2022, where national parks are marked in shades of blue and orange (According to Yobo and Ito, the “Not reported” Areas should be of category II [17]) , and grey indicates zones dedicated to the conservation of protected species and their habitats. These maps collectively offer a comprehensive view of Gabon's commitment to maintaining its natural landscapes and biodiversity.

Maps from The Global Forest Watch [5]

A significant portion of Gabon's forests is encompassed by concessions, primarily designated for logging, mining, and oil palm cultivation. These concessions play a crucial role in the country's economic framework, yet they carry substantial environmental and health repercussions. The impact of these activities extends beyond economic contributions, deeply influencing the ecological balance and public health within the region.

Maps from The Global Forest Watch [5]

Logging Concessions

Logging operations, authorized via concessions for both public and private entities, encompass 62.4% of Gabon's forested areas [6]. In an effort to mitigate illegal logging and bolster domestic industries such as veneer and plywood manufacturing, a ban on the export of logs was enacted in 2010 [7]. However, non-governmental organizations report that illegal logging remains a prevalent issue [11]. The government's directive mandating that all logging concessions obtain Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification by 2025 represents a pivotal initiative towards the advancement of sustainable forest management practices [8].

​

The image presented below illustrates the progressive expansion of logging concessions over time.

Charts from Gabon’s Proposed National REDD+ Forest Reference Level (February 2021) [9]

Mining Concessions

Own visualization using data from The FAO [20] and Minerals UK [21]

Own visualization, using data from Our World In Data [22]

Oil Palm Concessions

Own visualization using data from The FAO [20] and Minerals UK [21]

Own visualizations, using data from Our World In Data [22]

Gabon's economy has traditionally been heavily reliant on oil exports. However, with diminishing oil reserves, there's a concerted effort to pivot towards mining as a means of economic diversification. Gabon has emerged as one of the world's foremost producers of manganese, alongside the mining of other valuable minerals like gold, iron ore, uranium, and diamonds. A notable uptick in manganese production since 2010 is visible on the graph to the right, indicating this strategic shift.

 

Mining activities in Gabon are predominantly artisanal and small-scale, with operations extending deep into the forest [24]. Such mining practices frequently lead to encroachment by local populations, increased bushmeat hunting, and elephant poaching [24], facilitated by the roads constructed to access these remote areas. The very nature of this mining—ground excavation—significantly affects water levels by potentially altering river courses and depleting groundwater levels, adversely impacting both flora and fauna [25]. Despite the critical need for data on Gabon's groundwater withdrawal to understand the full impact, such information remains elusive. The available data on manganese production juxtaposed with water stress indicators suggest an escalating trend. However, the scarcity of reliable data from the Gabonese government poses challenges in gathering comprehensive evidence on a large scale.

The expansion of palm oil production has not only led to a surge in land conversion, as depicted in the adjacent graph, but also centralized the control of all palm oil concessions within Gabon under the purview of Olam International, a Singaporean conglomerate. This company has faced significant criticism for its role in clearing nearly 100,000 acres of forest by 2017 [26].

 

Furthermore, palm oil cultivation has been implicated in exacerbating threats to endangered species and contributing to a rise in CO2 emissions. Specifically, the practice of cultivating palm in monocultures is associated with increased CO2 emissions [27] and poses a threat to as many as 193 critically endangered animal species [19]. Additionally, the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in these plantations has led to the contamination of water sources for local communities [19].

 

On the left, a scatter plot aims to demonstrate the relationship between the expanding area dedicated to palm oil cultivation and the escalation of annual CO2 emissions. Although the data available is limited, a discernible positive trend suggests a correlation. This evidence highlights another adverse impact of palm oil production: the degradation of water quality for nearby populations, attributed to the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

Planetary Health Implications
Malaria

The incidence of malaria in Gabon has shown an upward trend since 2005. Research by Lendzele highlights the unintended creation of mosquito breeding sites by concession-related water pits [18]. Visual aids and a study-derived map illustrate the origin points of malaria infections, overlaying these with the logging road network from Global Forest Watch. This correlation suggests a significant portion of malaria cases are proximate to logging activities. However, the reliability of this experiment is constrained by the inaccuracy of logging road data, given the absence of an independent forest monitoring body in Gabon.

Chart from Our World In Data [22]

Own visualization using data from The Global Forest Watch [5] and Lendzele et al. (2022)[18]

Bushmeat Consumption and Disease Transmission

Bushmeat consumption, while not directly resultant from forest concessions, is notably intensified by the infrastructural developments they bring. Concession roads facilitate deeper forest penetration, disrupting ecosystems and promoting bushmeat hunting [12]. This practice, historically confined to village peripheries, has expanded, with logging workers now hunting deep within the forest. The consumption of bushmeat, often carried out for sustenance by workers in logging and mining concessions, has been linked to the spread of diseases, notably Ebola, prevalent in north-eastern Gabon [12]. The University of Oxford identifies Gabon as a high-risk zone for Ebola outbreaks [13], underscoring the health risks posed by bushmeat consumption in these areas.

Main Non-timber forest products consumed and sold by households, from Iponga et al.15 

Risk of ebola emergencence mapped, University of Oxford [13]

Community Displacement and Food Security

The implementation of Zero Deforestation policies in Gabon presents a nuanced challenge to local communities and food security. These policies, often viewed as impositions from the Global North [16], overlook the necessity of deforestation for socioeconomic infrastructure [10] and the dependence of local populations on forest resources for sustenance [17]. The establishment of protected areas, while crucial for conservation, inadvertently restricts local access to traditional sources of sustenance. This report includes a graph depicting the main plant sources of sustenance for forest-dwelling populations, highlighting that logging restrictions only apply to two out of the eleven crucial plants (in yellow) [15].

From Lendzele et al. (2022)[18]

Conclusions

The contentious nature of forest concessions demands enhanced data collection and oversight for a comprehensive understanding of their implications. Unregulated concessions could lead to dire consequences for local populations, including compromised food supplies, water contamination, the spread of epidemics, and displacement. Engaging local communities in forest management is essential, as their involvement could significantly mitigate negative impacts and foster more sustainable conservation practices [16][6]

References

  1. World Bank, 2022. The World Bank in Gabon. Available at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/gabon/overview

  2. The Nature Conservancy. https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/gabon-30-30-leading-conservation/

  3. UNDP, 2021. Gabon leads Africa in the preservation and conservation of forests. Available at: https://www.undp.org/africa/blog/gabon-leads-africa-preservation-and-conservation-forests

  4. BBC, 2022. Saving Gabon's rainforest. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct3c5k

  5. Global Forest Watch. https://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/

  6. Edwards, D.P., Socolar, J.B., Mills, S.C., Burivalova, Z., Koh, L.P. and Wilcove, D.S., 2019. Conservation of tropical forests in the anthropocene. Current Biology, 29(19), pp.R1008-R1020.

  7. Karsenty, Alain. "The contemporary forest concessions in West and Central Africa: chronicle of a foretold decline?." (2016).

  8. FSC, 2022. FSC-certified area in Gabon grows by 180,000 hectares. Available at:  https://fsc.org/en/newscentre/fsc-certified-area-in-gabon-grows-by-180000-hectares

  9. Gabonese Republic, 2021. Gabon’s Proposed National REDD+ Forest Reference Level. Available at: https://redd.unfccc.int/files/gabon_frl_submitted_feb2021.pdf

  10. AFD, 2023. GABON: EXPLOITING FORESTS WITHOUT DESTROYING THEM. Available at: https://www.afd.fr/en/actualites/gabon-exploiting-forests-without-destroying-them

  11. Forest Trends, 2021. Timber Legality Risk Dashboard: Gabon. Available at: https://www.forest-trends.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Gabon-Timber-Legality-Risk-Dashboard-IDAT-Risk.pdf

  12. Abernethy, K. and Ndong Obiang, A.M., 2010. Bushmeat in Gabon. Ministry of Water and Forests, Government of Gabon.

  13. University of Oxford, 2014. Risk of Ebola emergence mapped. Available at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2014-09-08-risk-ebola-emergence-mapped

  14. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-of-the-population-with-malaria?tab=chart&country=GAB

  15. Iponga, D.M., Mikolo-Yobo, C., Lescuyer, G., Assoumou, F.M., Levang, P., Tieguhong, J.C. and Ngoye, A., 2018. The contribution of NTFP-gathering to rural people’s livelihoods around two timber concessions in Gabon. Agroforestry systems, 92(1), pp.157-168.

  16. Lyons-White, J., Yobo, C.M., Ewers, R.M. and Knight, A.T., 2022. Understanding zero deforestation and the High Carbon Stock Approach in a highly forested tropical country. Land Use Policy, 112, p.105770.

  17. Yobo, C.M. and Ito, K., 2016. Evolution of policies and legal frameworks governing the management of forest and National Parks resources in Gabon. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 8(2), pp.41-54.

  18. Lendzele, S.S., Rodriquge, M.N., Boris, M., Kutomy, P.O., Armel, K.A., Christophe, Z.K.R., Leotard, S.O. and Mavoungou, J.F., 2022. Is malaria cases frequency correlated with the environmental and demographic composition at Mitzic medical center in Gabon?. DYSONA-Life Science, 3(2), pp.41-48.

  19. World Rainforest Movement, 2018. Threatened land: resisting the extractivist assault. Available at: https://www.wrm.org.uy//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Bolet%C3%ADn-240_EN.pdf

  20. FAO. https://www.fao.org/aquastat/en/databases/maindatabase/

  21. Minerals UK. https://www2.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/statistics/wms.cfc?method=searchWMS

  22. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/country/gabon

  23. Osofsky, S., 2018. Planetary Health. Available at: https://as.cornell.edu/news/planetary-health

  24. Hund, K. and Megevand, C., 2013. Deforestation Trends in the Congo Basin Working Paper 4 Mining. The World Bank.

  25. Hollestelle, M. 2012. “Gabon Case Study Report: A Situational Analysis of ASM in Protected Areas and Critical Ecosystems; and Recommendations for Gabonese Policymakers to Attain Ecologically and Socio-Economically Responsive Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining.”

  26. Rainforest Foundation UK, 2021.PAYMENT FOR NON-PERFORMANCE: GABON RECEIVES $17 MILLION IN REDD PAYMENTS DESPITE INCREASING DEFORESTATION. Available at:  https://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/payment-for-non-performance-gabon-receives-17-million-in-redd-payments-despite-increasing-deforestation/

  27. Burton, M.E., Poulsen, J.R., Lee, M.E., Medjibe, V.P., Stewart, C.G., Venkataraman, A. and White, L.J., 2017. Reducing carbon emissions from forest conversion for oil palm agriculture in Gabon. Conservation Letters, 10(3), pp.297-307. Vancouver

bottom of page