Gabon is deploying artificial intelligence to strengthen efforts to combat deforestation in a country where forests cover nearly 88 percent of the territory and are home to some of Central Africa’s richest biodiversity.
The initiative includes the rollout of Forest Foresight, an AI-powered monitoring tool developed in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which has now been integrated into Gabon’s national forest surveillance system.
Forest Foresight analyses satellite imagery to identify zones at high risk of deforestation, allowing authorities to anticipate threats up to six months in advance. According to project partners, the system operates with an estimated 80 percent accuracy, enabling more targeted deployment of patrols and enforcement resources.
The tool is already delivering tangible results. Officials say it helped prevent the establishment of an illegal gold mining site, preserving approximately 30 hectares of primary forest.
Gabon’s vast forests are a critical carbon sink and habitat for wildlife, including an estimated 95,000 forest elephants, the largest remaining population of the species in Africa. Illegal logging and mining remain persistent threats despite longstanding conservation policies.
In 2024, Forest Foresight was made open source, allowing Gabonese institutions to adapt the technology locally. Authorities say this move has strengthened national technical capacity and reduced reliance on external systems, while encouraging greater involvement from local stakeholders in forest management.
Environmental officials caution, however, that artificial intelligence alone cannot halt deforestation.
While the technology improves the efficiency of surveillance operations, its success depends on sustained political commitment, enforcement on the ground and cooperation with local communities living near protected areas, they say.
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“AI is a decision-support tool, not a substitute for governance,” a forestry official said, stressing the need for continued investment in patrols, legal enforcement and community engagement.
Gabon has long positioned itself as a leader in environmental protection, introducing strict logging regulations and promoting sustainable forest management. The integration of AI marks a new phase in those efforts, combining technological innovation with conservation policy.
Authorities say the goal is to build a more responsive and preventive system capable of protecting forests that are central to the country’s identity, economy and role in global climate regulation.
As pressure on tropical forests intensifies worldwide, Gabon’s experience is being closely watched by other forest-rich countries seeking to harness technology in the fight against environmental degradation.
