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Guinean Forests Integrated Program

CLIMATEBIODIVERSITY

The Guinean Forests Integrated Program is a five-year, US$ 22 million initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility and led by Conservation International.

The program aims to protect and improve the effective governance of the Guinean Forests in order to maximize global environmental benefits, contribute to the health of the planet, and the flow of vital ecosystem services that underpin human well-being. This initiative is a part of the Global Environment Facility's GEF-8 Critical Forest Biomes Program.

44,433

HECTARES

The program aims to restore nearly 45k hectares of forest over its lifetime.

Why the Guinean forests matter

The Guinean Forests are a critical lifeline for West Africa's biodiversity, climate resilience, and the livelihoods of millions who depend on their ecosystem services. This region is of crucial importance because it encompasses:

  • Vital ecosystem services: Forests support biodiversity, regulate climate, and sustain the livelihoods of millions across the region.
  • High threat levels: Deforestation is driven by agricultural expansion, unsustainable logging, mining, bushmeat trade, and climate change.
  • Transboundary impacts: Threats like illegal logging, artisanal mining, and wildlife trade cross national borders, requiring regional solutions.
  • Socioeconomic vulnerability: Poverty, inequality, and weak governance make conservation both a challenge and a necessity for long-term development.