Biodiversity conservation in the Gulf of Guinea islands: taking stock and preparing action

The biological setting of the four Gulf of Guinea islands is described to highlight the need for initiatives in biodiversity research and conservation. The impacts of anthropogenic pressures on tropical rain forests and other ecosystems are noted, as are constraints on the conservation and sustainable use of regional natural resources. Recommendations for biodiversity conservation in these islands focus on implementation and enforcement of an environmental legal system, regulation and reduction of pollutants, establishment of protected areas, and measures for species protection and socioeconomic development.