The SWM Project in Gabon
GABON

SWM PROJECT
The forests in the Congo Basin are home to an extremely rich diversity of animal and plant life. The Mulundu Department in the Ogooué-Lolo Province, is home to a diversity and abundance of wildlife, which provide an important source of protein and income for communities in small rural villages. However, the growing demand for wild meat in secondary towns and metropolitan areas could affect the availability of resources for these village communities.
The SWM Project in Gabon aims to promote sustainable management of village hunting and the local wild meat trade, whilst increasing the supply of alternative proteins. SWM activities in Gabon are coordinated by CIRAD, in collaboration with local communities and Gabon’s Ministry of Water and Forests.
DID YOU KNOW?
- The monitoring of hunting activities in Gabon now includes 8 village groups.
- All of the SWM Programme activities adopt a community rights-based approach, and accordingly must obtain the free, prior and informed consent of the community.
- Approximately 112 camera traps were used during more than 5 500 trapping days to assess the status of wildlife species hunted in 2019.
- Meat consumption and the views of consumers and hunters in 409 households were studied throughout Mulundu department.
- A working group, chaired by the Ministry of Water and Forests of Gabon, is working on the National Strategy for Game Hunting and Trade to improve the legal framework for hunting in Gabon.
