- Gabon's amazing new national park system, home to beach-walking elephants, naïve gorillas, and spectacular waterfalls, is the subject of two feature articles appearing in September's 'National Geographic' and 'National Geographic Adventure' magazine, giving the parks much needed publicity.
The parks, created last year by Gabon's President El Hadj Omar Bongo, were the culmination of years of work by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and other organisations, including most recently, the National Geographic Society. Comprising more than 10,000 square miles, the network consists of 13 separate protected areas safeguarding a diverse array of habitats.
Upon declaring the parks at last year's World Summit on Sustainability in South Africa, President El Hadj Omar Bongo said, "This is a decision of global significance that implies certain sacrifices in the short- and medium-term in order to achieve our goal of preserving these natural wonders for future generations."
Dr Steven Sanderson, president and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society called the park system, "One of the most courageous conservation acts in the last 20 years."
The 'National Geographic' magazine story, written by noted natural history writer David Quammen, with photographs by long time 'Geographic' photographer Nick Nichols, chronicles the efforts by WCS and other groups to make the park system a reality. The 'National Geographic Adventure' story, written by Contributing Editor Tom Clynes, is a travelogue, giving how-to information for potential visitors of the new parks.
In addition to the two recent articles, 'National Geographic' played a significant role through the "Megatransect," which it sponsored along with WCS. That project, in which WCS researcher Mike Fay trekked more than 2,000 miles through the Congo Basin rain forest, was the subject of three 'National Geographic' feature articles and an hour-long television program on 'National Geographic EXPLORER', as well as numerous radio interviews and websites.
- The publicity on Gabon's wildlife riches helped persuade officials to make the park system a reality, WCS noted in a press release, published today.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español