Project Areas: Wildlife Conservation, Zoology, African Studies, Biology, Botany, Conservation Fieldwork, Ecology, Environmental Conservation, Forestry, Scientific/Environmental Policy The Smithsonian Institution’s Gabon Biodiversity Program seeks to increase knowledge and awareness of biodiversity in the local landscape, which includes elephants, gorillas and sea turtles, and the largest oil exploration project in Gabon. The Program works to minimize the impact of development on biodiversity and increase local capacity to manage and develop natural resources.