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 to support the government’s program of planting 300 million trees by 2030 to meet the 20% forest heritage recovery targets.
François M’BRA II