The Government of Gabon and the Central African Forest Initiative have signed a letter of intent for 18 million United States Dollars to protect the country's forests and accelerate the fight against climate change. Berta Pesti, head of the Secretariat of the Central African Forest Initiative says Gabon is one of the most forested countries on earth, with forest covering 88% of its territory. And the West African nation has long committed itself to protect its natural resources, notably, a vast network of national parks and protected areas and a Forest code that imposes sustainable management.