rest agents, committed to the protection of the environment.
A civic commitment to effective action against deforestation
The Ivorian government is very active in its initiatives to preserve the forest, although the results are not yet visible in terms of rehabilitation throughout the national territory.
In 2018, the Ivorian State introduced a policy for the preservation, rehabilitation and extension of forests with the objective of restoring by 2030 a rate of 20% of the national forest cover. It envisages the establishment of an autonomous and independent structure responsible for the permanent monitoring of forests and wildlife in order to preserve forest heritage.
Forest and agricultural production are important economic drivers in West Africa. In a growing push toward more sustainable production goals, many global consumer-goods manufacturing multinationals, traders, and even some production companies have made commitments to eliminate deforestation from their global value chains. These commitments cover forest production, palm oil, coffee and cocoa, all produced in West African countries.
For example, in the context of its program on legality in Africa, and assistance to Funding from the Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (FGMC) of the DFID, the Proforest Initiative has set up a research and capacity development program. The aim is to facilitate the discussion on zero deforestation commitments in West Africa. The program targets Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Liberia.
Beyond multinationals and traders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs), contribute to the preservation of forest cover.
The Association Initiatives for Community Development and Forest Conservation (IDEF) initiated a series of activities as part of a project to preserve social cohesion and the inclusive protection of sacred forests in Gbondié and Gandié in the department of Biankouma in the west of the country in September 2020.
This project, entitled « Youth participation in the prevention and management of identity conflicts related to the desecration and exploitation of sacred forests in the department of Biankouma in Côte d’Ivoire », has been realized with the technical and financial support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, in partnership with the regional direction of water and forests.
According to the initiators, this project involves 200 young people who have benefited from income-generating activities related to forest protection. The beneficiaries took part in reforestation activities to restore the forests destroyed by human actions in the locality. This six-month project trained 20 young people as nurserymen to help restore degraded areas around protected sites.
The aim of REDD+ in the Mé (PRM) is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in the region of the Mé while improving the living conditions of people living along the shores of these forests. This project led to the creation of the Mabi-Yaya Natural Reserve, the result of intensive lobbying by Nitidæ and the Regional Council of the Mé. The PRM has demonstrated that it is possible to reconcile the reduction of pressure on natural resources and rural development by preserving, renewing and enhancing regional agricultural and forestry capital.
Culture is at the heart of the reconstruction of the Ivorian forest. Artists Zouglou, Yodé and Siro, through their foundation called « YeS Foundation » have signed a partnership agreement with the Society for Forest Development (SODEFOR). On 18 June 2022, this foundation launched its popular reforestation campaign in the forest of Anguédédou just outside Abidjan. More than one hectare of forest has been reforested with 800 plants.
The popular reforestation campaign 2023 will extend to several localities in the country with the support of the First Lady, Dominique Ouattara, President of the Children of Africa Foundation.
The restoration of Ivorian forest cover is everyone’s business. A collective commitment is needed