9-10 July 2013, an important meeting “the Central African Protected Area Day” was held in Libreville, Gabon.   To mark its fourth edition, the event was celebrated under the triple patronage of the Economic Commission of Central African States (ECCAS), the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC) and the Abidjan Convention.

The meeting was graced by the distinguished presence of the Gabonese Minister of Water Resources and Forestry, Mr. Gabriel TCHANGO, who came raise the profile of the JAP IV, which took place in a context of increased poaching in the Central Africa sub-region and delays in terms of marine and coastal ecosystem conservation marked by the limited number of declared or protected marine areas.

Organized by the Central African Network of Protected Areas (RAPAC) under the theme: “Anti-Poaching Action (LAB)” and “Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and the general objective of celebrating protected areas in Central Africa by exchanging on different experiences and conducting reflections on how they are established and managed", the meeting was attended by professionals from all over Central Africa, RAPAC members likely to influence the creation and the sustainable management of land and marine biodiversity conservation areas.          The approach developed for managing JAP IV 2013 was based on presentations and debates during plenary sessions, around the following major themes:

♦ Experience of anti-poaching actions (LAB) in the sub-region,

♦ Anti-poaching actions (LAB) follow-up tools and law enforcement,

♦ Eco-guards and anti-poaching actions (LAB),

♦ Governance and anti-poaching actions (LAB),

♦ Marine and coastal biodiversity management, threats and conservation measures,

♦ Exchange of data, synthesis of knowledge and mapping,

♦ Coastal planning and consistency between sectors in a multipurpose area,

♦ Visibility of results.

During these two days of in-depth thinking on the central theme, participants formulated recommendations aimed at: improving the working conditions of eco-guards to ensure better results, strengthening the judicial administration in terms of wildlife-related law enforcement, developing incentives for conservation agents such as prizes, encouraging states to establish protected marine areas.

It was with these recommendations and the reading of the final declaration that participants left on the last day hoping to witness the positives outcomes of the JAP in their respective countries.

The full report on the meeting is provided in a final communiqué available Here.

Read more on the  RAPAC's Website: (In French only)

1ère Journée des AP le 09 Juillet 2013   :

•  Session introductive de la présentation de la journée des AP d'Afrique Centrale JAPIV (551.57 KB)
• Impact du Braconnage sur les grands mammifères d'évidence des données  (8.76 MB) FIONA MAISELS, WCS 
• L'implication des Populations Locale dans la lutte contre le braconnage dans le contexte de la Gouvernance locale  (108.99 KB) Jeau Claude Nguinguiri 
• LAB, suivi des patrouille: défi technico-finacier et/ou défi Gouvernance (2.78 MB) Aimé Serge Mibambani 
• Le métier de lEcogarde : statut, mission, risque et valorisation (4.34 MB) Radar Nishuli 
• Vers la mise en place d'une stratégie de la Lutte anti-Braconnage en Afrique Centrale (1.25 MB) Honoé Tabuna
•  Une approche pour le suivi, évaluation et amélioration de lefficacité de la lutte contre le braconnage (8.79 MB) Emma Stockes
•  Synthèse des journées nationales des AP (1.6 MB)

2ème journée des AP le 10 Juillet 2013:

• Session introductive,présentation du Gabon Bleu (4.47 MB) 
• Session introductive, le secteur de la pêche, contraintes et opportinités (5.25 MB)
• Plan de travail stratégique pour les Aires Marines Protégées de la façade Atlantique de lAfrique Ouest (10.67 MB) 
• Plan de travail stratégique pour les Aires Marines Protégées de la façade façade Atlantique de lAfrique Centrale (11.48 MB)
• Construire les réseau mondiale des Aires Marines Protégées (AMP) (9.66 MB)
• WWF and Marine Protected areas in Gabon (11.69 MB)
• Parc nationale de Mayumba (8.45 MB) Eric Augowet