)
Back in 2002 Gabon's president, Omar Bongo, set aside 10% of the country for Nature Reserves, 13 of them, and the country began to build a reputation as an Eco-Tourism destination.
Now the finest of these, Loango, south of Port-Gentil, home to rare animals like the aquatic West African Manatee, is under seige. 150 oil prospectors from the Chinese company Sinopec have carved roads and built camps in the forest, causing 16,000 dynamite explosions as part of their attempt to map the subterrarean regions for oil.
The country's Environment Ministry and nature conservation groups have been over-ruled by the Minister for Mines. "If mining or oil resources are discovered in a protected area, such resources can and must be exploited to encourage the country's social and economic development," said a government communiqué.
This may be a sign of the new style Chinese influence in Africa - the Loango project was started after the visit of President Hu Jintao in February 2004 - although South African and European firms are also involved.
Loango is not the only park under threat. There are plans for oil pipelines through the Pangara and Minkebe parks, and for mining in the Crystal Mountains park and directly adjacent to the Minkebe park.
USER COMMENTS
