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Forest context and risk factors in Gabon ˬ

Forest resources and context of Gabon

According to an AfDB study conducted by FRMi in 2018, Gabon has about 22.3 million hectares of forest areas and from FAO study 23,5 million hectares (2020), which represents 87% of the nation's total area. Almost all of the forest area consists of primary or naturally regenerated forests.

Land surface

25.8

million ha

Forest cover

23.5

million ha

Production forest

14

million ha

Forest ownership

100

% publicly

 

Forest lost

xx

% per year

Forest ownership in Gabon

The full 100% of the Gabonese forests is owned by the state, although the management of the forest areas can be divided into three different categories:

  1. Production forests which are managed by private concessionaires, although the management rights are exclusively administered by the state.
  2. Protection forests, which are directly managed by the state. Gabon has 13 national parks and some other protected areas, covering together approximately 12% of the country.
  3. The domain rural, which is generally land and forest where rural communities and forest dwellers are free to exercise their customary rights, provided that they respect the conditions imposed by the forest administration.

Forest resources in Gabon

Types of forest

There are three major forest types:

  1. Evergreen rainforest in the west, which has been heavily harvested, degraded and in some areas reduced to secondary forest characterized by the species Okoumé (Aucomeaklaineana), one of the most important species of the Gabonese timber sector, and Ozigo (Dacryodesbuettneri);
  2. Closed humid central Gabonese forest, covering most of the country, with many species found to similar forests found elsewhere in the region such as Azobé (Lophiraalata), Mahogany species (Entandrophragma spp. and Khaya spp.), Aiélé (Canariumschweinfurthii) and Ayous (Triplochitonscleroxylon);
  3. Semi-deciduous forest type in the northeast, characterized by trees such as Limba (Terminalia superba), Wengé (Millettialaurentii) and Ayous (Triplochitonscleroxylon).

With a low overall population density and large forest area Gabon faces a relatively low forest loss of 0.12% per year and an average degradation rate of 0.09%.

The main causes for deforestation are small-scale agriculture established along roadways and urban development, while the main causes of forest degradation are industrial mining and illegal logging in opened-up areas.

Gabon is a forest country where the fauna and flora are still well preserved and protected in thirteen national parks and some other protected areas (covering in total more than 12% of the country'sterritory).

The Lopé National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

Gabon is divided into 9 provinces, each headed by a governor, which are in turn subdivided into departments under a prefect and, in some cases, into districts under a sub-prefect.

 

Global Forest Watch Map

Global Forest Watch Map Gabon

CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX (Transparency international)

    0 is highly corrupt, 100 is very clean.
Source: Transparency International

 

ILLEGAL DEFORESTATION AND ASSOCIATED TRADE (IDAT) Risk (Forest Trend)

84.06/100

 

00 is higher risk, 0 is lower risk
Source: Forest trend

 

SOURCING HUB RISK SCORE (Preferred by nature)

3/100

 0 is higher risk, 100 is lower risk
Source: Preferred by nature

 

 

 

COUNTRY DEFORESTESTATION CLASSIFICATION LIST - EUDR (European Commission)

LOW risk category

For more information about the methodology, see here

 

 

 

Interpretation of Risk Indicators

The indicators presented in this country profile (CPI, IDIAT, Sourcing Hub, EU benchmarking) are macro indicators intended to support risk analysis. They do not constitute a uniform qualification of the country or of its operators.

The EU benchmarking system classifies countries according to their risk of producing commodities that are not deforestation-free. For countries classified as standard risk, operators must conduct full due diligence, including information collection, risk assessment, and risk mitigation.

A country classified as presenting a certain level of risk does not mean that trade is prohibited. Operators may still source from such countries, provided that risks are adequately mitigated. This may include prioritising certified supply chains or those verified by independent third-party audits. Moreover, risk levels can vary within a country: a specific supplier or supply chain may present a low risk even in a country classified as high risk.

In accordance with the EUDR (Articles 9 to 11), risk assessment must in all cases be carried out at the level of the plot of origin and take into account the specific context of the region, the type of forest, and the supply chain.

The Timber Trade Portal is designed to support this analysis but does not replace the operator’s due diligence obligations.

Subnational variations in risks

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