June 2016: The governing body of the Network of Protected Areas of Central Africa (RAPAC), a sub-regional coordination initiative covering 82 protected areas in eight countries of Central Africa, has proceeded with institutional reforms and has adopted a new Strategic and Action Plan. Aiming to renew RAPAC’s mandate to serve as a multi-actor platform for knowledge sharing and action,RAPAC’s governing body proceeded with institutional reforms in order to ensure participation of not only governments, but also non-governmental actors in the management of protected areas. It also adopted the Strategic and Action Plan 2016-2020, centered around three specific objectives: protected area management; governance and valuation; and public awareness.

Operating in the framework of the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC) with funding from the European Commission, RAPAC covers 82 protected areas in eight member countries: Cameroon, the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe. and Chad. It also has 33 pilot sites. [RAPAC Website] [IISD RS Sources]