Défis et menaces de la patrimonialisation de l’espace maritime gabonais: cas des Aires Marines Protégées

Abstract

Abstract

Challenges and Threats to the Patrimonialization of Gabon’s Maritime Space: The Case of Marine Protected Areas

This article looks at the protection of Gabon’s marine ecosystem through the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Despite their uniqueness, MPAs are currently facing a lack of full support from local communities, who are critical of policies that are essentially focused on conservation. The article highlights the challenges and threats posed by the development of maritime heritage, given the government’s stated ambition to secure the sites identified for protection. The development of this work required a methodological approach based on the consultation of available documentary resources and the collection of field data from observations and exchanges with twenty-five stakeholders. The initial results show that the creation of MPAs reflects a clear political will to secure and appropriate the maritime domain. However, the heritage approach, which since then has been limited to conservation aspects, must now go beyond this framework and extend to the construction of a cultural identity based on attachment to marine heritage.