Petit Loango is part of the lagoon complex of Iguela. It is a slightly undulating coastal plain with several lakes, dissected by small rivers and temporary and permanent swamps, set in a savanna, mangrove and rainforest environment. The Site supports rare and vulnerable species such as the hippo, gorilla and elephant, and provides a nesting site for the three threatened turtle species: the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). Birds, mainly terns of the Sterna genus, use the sandbanks for breeding. The Site plays an important role in flood control, sediment capture and bank stabilization through riverside vegetation. Given the very low population density and the area’s classification as a wildlife reserve, the Site is very scarcely used. The surroundings are used for tourism and for oil exploitation, which could constitute a threat in the future, especially if expanded. As the Site opens out to the Atlantic Ocean, permanent communications paths are envisaged. The overlapping Loango National Park was established in 2002.