WORLD forest day

**MARCH 21**
Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World.

Approximately 31% of the Earth's land surface is covered by forests. The Congo Basin forest, which spans six countries, including Gabon, is the second largest forest in the world after the Amazon and is a vital asset for humanity. Covering 88% of its area with humid forests, of which 65% are primary forests, and the remaining 23% are secondary forests useful for agriculture, Gabon ranks first among African countries in forest area with its 23 million hectares of forest. These forests host over 10,000 plant species and are maintained by its renowned engineers: the elephants.

The 95,000 elephants residing in Gabon’s forests significantly contribute to their diversification through seed dispersal. By clearing dense vegetation areas to feed, they create clearings that offer new growth opportunities for various plant species, enriching the diversity of forest habitats. As undisputed compasses of the Gabonese tropical forest lining the equator, elephants naturally create trails or corridors that also help connect different forest areas.

As the world celebrates International Day of Forests on March 21, 2024, through innovation for a better future, Space for Giants, through its “human-elephant conflict" program, is deploying an innovative solution in Gabon - mobile electric fences - to protect subsistence farmers’ crops and elephants, aiming for effective coexistence and to limit as much as possible the exploitation of primary forests for agricultural purposes.

The fences help better define land management plans, allowing farmers to have areas dedicated to agriculture and areas strictly reserved for forest and wildlife preservation. They enable farmers to restrict their agricultural activities around villages, thus reducing the need to cut trees in primary forests. Mobile electric fences, suitable for slash-and-burn agriculture practiced in Gabon, allow local populations to open up new agricultural lands for essential food crops. This reduces pressure on intact forests, as farmers can clear already-used lands rather than primary forests.

Today, Gabon is considered the last refuge for forest elephants. It has 650 mobile electric fences installed across its lands, minimizing the exploitation of virgin forests for agricultural purposes and promoting their preservation, which is beneficial for the world and future generations.