Gambiaj.com – (Bissau, Guinea-Bissau) – Guinea-Bissau has taken a major step toward global environmental recognition with the submission of a candidacy file for the Jeta-Pecixe-Cacheu Biosphere Reserve (RBJPC) to the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. The initiative reflects the country’s growing commitment to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable development, despite being among the least developed nations in the world.
The proposed biosphere reserve will span 446,721 hectares—or approximately 4,467 square kilometers—covering 12.37% of the national territory. If approved, this addition would raise the country’s total protected areas to 35.67%, far surpassing the global “30 by 30” goal of protecting 30% of land and marine areas by 2030.
According to 2024 data from the SIG-IBAP system, Guinea-Bissau has already designated 26.3% of its territory as protected. The RBJPC will not only boost these figures but also reinforce the country’s national protected area system (SNAP) by ensuring ecological representativeness, enhancing climate adaptation, and combating desertification.
Rooted in an ambition dating back to 2007, the RBJPC proposal was formalized in 2018 with extensive stakeholder consultations across local communities, regional administrations, NGOs, and private actors.
The project is supported by multiple international partners, including Wetlands for Resiliensea (W4R), Mangrove Capital Africa (MCA), GRDR Senegal, and the Portuguese Environment Fund, in coordination with Guinea-Bissau’s Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Areas (IBAP).
The candidacy file—written in both Portuguese and French—serves as a roadmap for inclusive and sustainable management of the reserve. Encompassing the marine and coastal ecosystems of Jeta, Pecixe, and Cacheu, the reserve is poised to become a symbol of Guinea-Bissau’s leadership in ecological preservation and equitable territorial development.
“This is not just about conservation,” said a spokesperson from IBAP. “It’s about securing a resilient future for our communities and environment through fair and inclusive stewardship of our rich ecological heritage.”
If accepted, the Jeta-Pecixe-Cacheu Biosphere Reserve will further elevate Guinea-Bissau’s global standing as a small nation making significant strides in environmental diplomacy and natural resource governance.
