Guinea gov't to increase protected zones to preserve ecosystem

Guinea is committed to increasing the country's protected zones to 25 percent of national territory by 2020 to preserve the ecosystem, head of the country's environment department Christine Sagno said Monday.

According to Sagno, 15 percent of the protected zone will be on land while 10 percent will be marine protected zone.

She was speaking during a ceremony to unveil a national park in Moyen-Bafing region. The national park is an initiative of the environment department and the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF).

The objective is to stop continued erosion of biological diversity and degradation of Guinea's ecosystems in the interest of Guinean population as well as those from neighbouring countries.

It should be noted that although Guinea is rich in biodiversity, the country has not been spared the effects of climate change and loss of its forestry and water resources.

Guinean authorities believe the implementation of the initiative will "promote sustainable management of the ecosystems, promote tourism, enhance the fight against poaching, end indiscriminate destruction of vegetation and reinforce environmental surveillance." Endit