Soundscapes reveal higher biodiversity in FSC-certified forests in Gabon FSC Africa FSC Africa September 23, 2025 Category : General news Gabon is one of the world’s most forested countries, with 91.3% of its land covered in trees. As part of the second largest tropical rainforest in the world, the Congo Basin, it contributes to biodiversity, ecosystem services, and regional climate stability. A study in Biological Conservation reports that FSC-certified forest concessions support greater biodiversity compared to non-certified forests in Gabon. Using ‘ecoacoustics’, or the study of sound recordings in a region to assess diversity, it found that the soundscapes of FSC-certified concessions resembled national parks selectively logged over 20 years ago more than conventional concessions did. Researchers believe this could be partially due to lower rates of gun hunting in FSC-certified concessions, which were found to reduce gun hunting. Unsustainable hunting can contribute to population declines and reduced forest resilience. The team also found that never logged forests – nowadays rare in Gabon – had unique soundscapes. Why biodiversity in tropical forests matters Tropical forests around the world store 25% of terrestrial carbon and support a disproportionate amount of biodiversity including 96% of all tree species, and over 50% of terrestrial vertebrates. They also provide income, natural resources, food, medicine, and cultural significance for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Tropical forests are also a source of revenue from selective logging and ecotourism at the national level. FSC Africa / Max Hurdebourcq Methodology As many nations with tropical forests face challenges of how to balance forest management for local subsistence and conservation, economic growth, and global climate and biodiversity goals, this study aimed to understand the impacts of logging, hunting, and conservation on biodiversity. Natalie Yoh, Walter Mbamy, and other researchers used bioacoustic recorders to gather data on 15,264 hours of soundscapes. They studied closed rainforests and forest-savannah mosaics in different land use designations including national parks, FSC-certified logging concessions, and non-certified logging concessions. They examined data from both the dry and rainy seasons in 109 sites across Gabon in four provinces: Ogooué-Ivindo, Ogooué-Lolo, Nyanga, and Ngounié that contain habitats for endangered forest elephants and western lowland gorillas. Recommended actions for biodiversity The researchers recommend increasing FSC-certified logging concessions in Gabon and the Congo Basin in place of existing uncertified concessions to bolster forest conservation in this critical region. They also recommend keeping intact the few forests that have never been logged before to safeguard these unique, biodiversity-rich landscapes. Read the study here. To learn more about the impacts of FSC certification, visit the FSC Impact Dashboard.