Uniting for Nature: Guinea and France pioneering conservation project
Uniting for Nature: Guinea and France pioneering conservation project , GuinéeOctober 2024
Uniting for Nature: How Guinea and France are Pioneering the Future of Conservation with the PROTEMO Project
In January 2023, a transformative partnership between Guinea and France was launched to protect and preserve the environment and improve local populations access to equal economic opportunities. The PROTEMO project brings together local communities, governments, and environmental organizations with a shared goal: to protect and restore natural areas in Guinea, while fostering sustainable livelihoods. Inspired by the success of France’s Regional Nature Parks (PNR), this collaboration aims to balance the urgent need for biodiversity conservation with the well-being of local populations, creating a model of hope for the planet.
A Shared Vision for People and the Planet
At the heart of the PROTEMO project lies the ambition to tackle both environmental and socio-economic challenges in Guinea’s Moussayah district. A comprehensive territorial diagnosis in 2022 revealed the tough realities: precarious living conditions, food insecurity, and a fragile local economy, especially for women and youth. Traditional agricultural practices and the disruptive impact of mining further threatened both the ecosystem and the livelihood of the inhabitants. Adding to these concerns was the delicate relationship between the local communities and the Kounounkan forest, an area of immense ecological significance.
In response to these challenges, the French Embassy in Conakry and Lansana Conté University organized a participatory workshop in Forécariah, where community members, government officials, and NGOs came together to create a vision for the future. Their priorities were clear: strengthen environmental governance, expand economic opportunities, and safeguard the environment. The PROTEMO project emerged from this collective vision, designed to empower local communities to take charge of their future while protecting their natural heritage.
A Unique, Bottom-Up Approach to Conservation
What sets PROTEMO apart is its deeply collaborative, “bottom-up” approach. The project brings together an impressive collection of partners, including the Federation of Regional Nature Parks of France and RENASCEDD, a Guinean NGO committed to sustainable development. By drawing on the successful model of France’s nature parks, the project has established consultation frameworks that allow local communities to have a direct say in how their land is managed and protected.
This approach marks a significant departure from the traditional top-down conservation methods often imposed on developing regions. In the Moussayah district, local involvement is more than just a token gesture – it’s central to the project’s success. Community members are actively engaged in managing the Kounounkan Reserve, gaining new insights into the long-term value of conservation. By focusing on local development alongside environmental protection, PROTEMO ensures that these efforts are both sustainable and socially inclusive – a first for Guinea.
Real, Tangible Change on the Ground
The results of PROTEMO’s work are already making a noticeable impact. In just under two years, 90,000 trees have been replanted in the Kounounkan Nature Reserve, an area critical to the survival of several endangered species. Thanks to the reforestation efforts, chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys, and other wildlife are making a remarkable comeback, reclaiming their natural habitats.
But the project’s success isn’t just about restoring ecosystems. It’s about creating new, sustainable ways for local people to thrive. Economic opportunities have blossomed: plants like avodiré and small cola trees have been reintroduced, providing women with valuable resources they can harvest without disrupting the environment. Former poachers, once driven by necessity to hunt endangered species, have been retrained as beekeepers and now patrol the reserve alongside forest rangers to protect the very wildlife they once hunted.
Education is also a core component of PROTEMO. Over 3,000 students and teachers have been sensitized to biodiversity issues, while 165 women have participated in literacy programs designed to empower them with the skills needed to navigate a changing world. With 25 microfinance groups supported, the project is creating a virtuous cycle where economic progress and environmental conservation are intertwined.
A Model for the Future
The significance of PROTEMO goes far beyond the borders of Guinea. As climate change continues to cause devastating damage on ecosystems, the need for innovative, community-driven solutions has never been more urgent. PROTEMO offers a powerful blueprint for how protected areas can be managed in ways that support both biodiversity and human development.
Presented at a regional workshop in Guinea in April 2024, the project has already garnered attention from across West Africa, inspiring similar efforts in French-speaking countries seeking to protect their own natural heritage. As the world grapples with the ever-growing impacts of climate change, this collaborative model of conservation could be the key to safeguarding our planet’s most precious ecosystems.
The success of PROTEMO is proof that when local voices are heard and international expertise is shared, transformative change is possible. The world is watching—and learning.
More info:
> Accueil – PROTEMO : Projet de Territoire de Moussayah
This story is presented in the framework of the COOP’R project, led by the Association Internationale de Régions Francophones (AIRF) with support from Regions 4, the Federation of Regional Natural Parks, and Nitidae. The project aims to promote interregional cooperation for the economic and social development of Francophone territories through biodiversity management.