Guinea has a unique heritage in terms of biodiversity in West Africa, especially in its relics of dense humid forests classified as a biodiversity hotspot by Conservation International, and as one of the 200 most remarkable ecoregions in terms of habitats at the global level, in terms of endemism or species richness, by the WorldWide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The network of protected areas in Guinea is generally representative of the diversity of the country's ecosystems, and in particular, it includes mountains, coasts and continental fresh waters. However, the proportion of protected areas in marine and coastal areas could increase. The network is adequate in terms of size and positioning of the parks, covers sites with international recognition but does not protect them effectively at the moment. There is a lack of staff and funding to do this and to properly enforce all regulations. It should also be noted that the legal status of most protected areas has not been updated since independence, which generates misunderstandings and conflicts of use.