Biodiversity Conservation in Guinea
implementing community conservation agreements
Implementing biodiversity conservation in areas affected by resource extraction requires collaboration between many different actors: companies, communities, and public institutions. Yet turning policies and commitments into practical action on the ground can be challenging.
Therefore LEAF and Biotope facilitated strategy game workshops as part of the COMBO+ project (Conservation, Minimisation of Impacts, and Offsetting for Biodiversity) in Guinea in February 2025. The workshops focused on supporting the implementation of community conservation agreements linked to biodiversity offsetting.
CoHab Strategy Game Workshops
Two workshops of two days brought together key stakeholders of biodiversity conservation. One session gathered companies from the REB (Réseau Environnement Bauxite) network and representatives of local communities. Another involved institutional partners and representatives from relevant ministries.
Using strategy games, participants explored how conservation agreements could work in practice. The games helped simulate real decision-making situations and encouraged discussions around concrete questions, such as how agreements can be designed, negotiated, and implemented in ways that benefit biodiversity and local communities.
The workshops also showed how useful strategy games can be for bringing people together. In a simple and interactive setting, participants can test ideas, discuss different options, and better understand each other’s perspectives. Instead of talking in general terms, they work through situations, like how to share land, define responsibilities, or agree on conservation actions.
As demand for natural resources continues to grow and due diligence policies become more important, companies and institutions need to show that their commitments actually work on the ground. Strategy games like COHAB help make this possible by turning complex policies into practical discussions where stakeholders can explore solutions together.
Across the workshops the following key takeaways emerged:
Strategy games excel in bringing together diverse participants fostering inclusive collaboration spaces
The games help to direct discussions on concrete, practical questions that often are easily overlooked, even by experts.
Story written by: Miriam Hausl, edited by LEAF; Photo credits: LEAF
Further Information
Resources
You can find here scientific publications, articles, videos and blogs about our approach, our methods and our projects.