𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝟏𝟑𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐱 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

The Gambia has been ranked 131st out of 180 countries in the Nature Conservation Index (NCI) 2025, achieving an overall score of 51.1, according to the newly released global assessment of countries’ efforts to protect and manage their natural environments.

Despite its overall ranking, the country recorded a remarkable achievement by ranking first in the world for the ecological representativeness of its terrestrial protected areas. This means that The Gambia’s protected lands successfully cover a wide range of the country’s ecosystems, demonstrating strategic planning in biodiversity conservation.

The Nature Conservation Index 2025, developed by BioDB in collaboration with the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University, evaluates how effectively 180 countries conserve nature using measurable indicators rather than policy commitments alone.

The index assesses four key areas: land management, threats to biodiversity, conservation capacity and governance, and future environmental trends. A major addition to this year’s assessment is the Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII), which measures how much of a country’s original biodiversity remains, offering a more comprehensive picture of ecosystem health beyond the size of protected areas.

According to the report, The Gambia’s top global ranking in ecological representativeness highlights that meaningful conservation is not determined by a country’s size or wealth but by careful planning and sustained commitment to protecting its natural heritage.

The report comes at a time when climate change, habitat loss, pollution and biodiversity decline continue to threaten ecosystems worldwide. It notes that healthy forests, wetlands, grasslands and coastal ecosystems play a critical role in storing carbon, reducing climate impacts and supporting food security.

The Nature Conservation Index is intended to serve not only as a global ranking but also as a practical tool for governments, policymakers and conservation organisations to identify strengths, address weaknesses and guide future investments in environmental protection.

For The Gambia, the findings present both a challenge and an opportunity: while the country has significant room for improvement in its overall conservation performance, its world-leading achievement in protected area representation provides a strong foundation for building a more resilient and sustainable future.

Gunjur is among Gambia’s top communities with practical steps in nature conservation and measures in combating climate change.