Government of Gabon Joins The Nature Conservancy and Enduring Earth to Mobilize US$200 Million for Transformative Community and Conservation Outcomes

The Government of Gabon, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Enduring Earth and partners, today announced the formal launch of a visionary Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) initiative, known locally as Gabon Infini, that aims to mobilize up to US$200 million in community and conservation investments from multiple funding sources over the next decade—helping the biodiversity-rich country deliver sustainable economic benefits in protected area landscapes, while also advancing itsambitious “30x30x30” commitment to safeguard 30% of its terrestrial, freshwater and marineecosystems by 2030.

A crucial ecological anchor within the vast Congo Basin that helps regulate rainfall across much of Africa, 88% of Gabon is covered by dense, tropical forest, alongside a marine territory similar in size to the country’s land area, all framed by 500 miles of pristine Atlantic coastline, the expansive Ogooué River basin, and vast tracts of forest, rolling savanna and peatlands—powerful carbon sinks that collectively absorb more CO2 than the country emits, while also buffering against climate-driven hazards like floods and droughts.

Emphasizing the government’s community-first approach, Gabon’s Vice-President of the Government, Mr. Herman Immongault, stated:

“The Gabon Infini program aligns fully with the orientations of our 2026-2030 National Growth and Development Plan. Our vision is clear: beyond simply leveraging our natural resources, we are placing people and our communities firmly at the heart of development. By creating sustainable local economic opportunities, securing the livelihoods of our rural populations, and turning biodiversity into a strategic pillar of national development, Gabon Infini serves as a true engine of prosperity for our communities as a whole.”

Previewed during November’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil, the Gabon Infini PFP is underpinned by a detailed national community development and conservation plan that provides for an additional 3.7 million hectares of new protected areas on land, while also improving the management of ~3.8 million hectares of land already under protection. By prioritising the economic wellbeing of those communities living alongside Gabon’s natural riches, Gabon Infini is expected to directly benefit rural populations —supercharging the government’s ability to deliver against its vision of a place where people, nature and communities thrive.  An independent conservation trust fund, le Fonds de Préservation de la Biodiversité au Gabon (FPBG), will manage and distribute the PFP’s donor funding.

Commenting on the formal launch of Gabon Infini, The Nature Conservancy’s CEO Jennifer Morris said: “Protecting nature is so much more than simply safeguarding ecosystems. Lasting conservation requires that we honor, sustain, and incorporate the communities who have stewarded and protected these irreplaceable assets into the process. Throughout the course of establishing Gabon Infini, we have seen unwavering commitment from the Government of Gabon to the needs of community-led conservation and an urgency to protect the incredible diversity of life among its dense tropical forests and extensive freshwater and marine ecosystems. As one of the first countries to commit to protecting not only 30% of its land and ocean but also freshwater ecosystems, Gabon stands apart in its commitment to the Global Biodiversity Framework. We are proud to partner and support the long-term financing made possible through this collaboration with Enduring Earth.”

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