2023- Gabon: Pioneering Ocean Conservation in Mainland Africa

In a landmark achievement for conservation finance, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Government of Gabon have launched a historic $500 million "Blue Bonds" initiative—the first of its kind in Mainland Africa. This innovative financial transaction refinances a portion of Gabon's national debt, unlocking an impressive $163 million in dedicated new funding for ocean protection and management.

This project enables Gabon to significantly advance its commitment to protect 30% of its land, freshwater systems, and oceans by 2030. The nation's coastal waters are a critical sanctuary for endangered species, hosting the world's largest population of leatherback turtles and the Atlantic humpback dolphin. The Blue Bonds will finance a Marine Spatial Plan to expand and enhance marine protected areas and bolster efforts against illegal fishing, supporting Gabon's sustainable 'blue economy.'

With political risk insurance from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) lowering debt costs, Gabon will make annual contributions to an independent Conservation Fund and an endowment, ensuring long-term funding for its vital ecosystems beyond the bond's repayment. This initiative is a testament to TNC's ambitious "Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation" program, which combines finance with scientific expertise to empower countries like Gabon—following Seychelles, Belize, and Barbados—to achieve their climate and conservation goals while benefiting their people and economies. As President Ali Bongo Ondimba stated, this project offers hope that "green or blue financial mechanisms will grow significantly," transforming talk into tangible action for our planet.