Lake to Plate Story: Augustin Nzoghe, community leader, head of Aschouka Island. 5 wives, 29 children and 10 grandchildren. Early morning gillnet fishing with his wife Ophelie Efire (mother of Divine, 2 year old girl). Next: Ophelie cleaning freshly-caught fish in the motor-boat as they head back to the island. On the Island, community members sometimes help clean the fish- here Nanou Bela in a black dress, and her husband, Christian Ekomi Engone, clean fish. Next: Ophelie cooks fish stew in the kitchen while Augustin smokes the freshly caught fish (and yesterday's fish) to preserve it. Next: family eats together in Augustin's home. Augustin's grandson (also named Augustin) is present.

Lake Oguemoué

Reclaiming ancestral land for community forests in Gabon.

Lake Oguemoué in Gabon is a vital ecosystem that’s home to forest elephants, lowland gorillas, hippos and rare bird species.

Led by our brilliant partners at OELO and local sustainable fishing cooperatives, we supported the ‘Our Forest, Our Future’ project in Gabon. An initiative that aims to create community forests around Lake Oguemoué.

Why? Well, for too long ancestral forests here have been carved into concessions and handed over to foreign logging companies.

What’s left behind? Exploited landscapes and communities left out of decisions that affect their lands, lives, and future.

Now, that’s changing. This project is a powerful step towards community-owned forests, where the people who live there lead the way in protecting them.

Our Forest, Our Future

Our Forest, Our Future

The “Our Forest, Our Future” project looks to reclaim ancestral forests and manage forest biodiversity sustainably for generations to come.

Our Forest, Our Future

Exciting sightings

The communities around Lake Oguemoué have watched their forests and livelihoods suffer at the hands of irresponsible foreign logging companies. Access to their land was lost, and with it, control over the resources they’ve depended on for generations.

But thanks to the work of OELO and the determination of local people, change is already taking root.

During the dry season, more elephants and hippos were spotted than ever before. Where as 10 years ago you may have been fortunate to count a handful of hippos on the river leading to the lake, this year their numbers reached 30.

Funding Solutions

Protecting the rainforest now, for the future.

‘Our Forest, Our Future’ goals

‘Our Forest, Our Future’ goals

to improve forest health and biodiversity by empowering local communities, like the villages of Oguemoué to have control of their land.

Martial Angoue, the accountant at AMVEN, documenting the weight, size and type of fish caught daily. © Roshni Lodhia

Community-led

Together, we’re creating sustainable management plans that allow the community to legally own, access and use their ancestral forest.

OELO community members on Nlong Island, Lake Oguemoue. Here: Franck Bengone, President of AMVEN, the fishing association.

Sustainable management

The sustainable management plans include reducing the illegal bushmeat trade and promoting non-timber forest products.