Education
Ivory Coast loses 200,000ha of forest annually – Official – EnviroNews
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The Ivorian Authority says the country loses about 200,000 hectares of forest annually due to farming and infrastructure development.
LCL Kone Joachim, Assistant to the County Director of the Ministry of Water and Forestry in Bouaké Department, Gbêkê Region, disclosed this on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Joachim made the revelation when a delegation from Climate Beyond Border Caravane (CBBC), an initiative of Planet People Peace Foundation (PPPF), paid him a courtesy visit.
The official attributed the losses to expanding infrastructure projects and agricultural activities, warning that pressure on forests would increase significantly by 2030.
According to him, rapid urbanisation, the establishment of new industrial zones and the expansion of farmlands will further accelerate deforestation across the country.
Joachim noted that deforestation contributes about 12 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, making forest conservation critical to climate action.
He said the ministry had developed a new policy focused on forest preservation, rehabilitation and expansion to strengthen afforestation efforts nationwide.
The policy, he explained, is built on biodiversity conservation, climate stability, sustainable socio-economic development and compliance with Côte d’Ivoire’s international commitments.
“In this policy, forest preservation, rehabilitation and expansion efforts will complement those of the State and the national community through public-private partnerships essential for financing implementation.
“Therefore, the ministry calls for national awareness and commitment to forest restoration to ensure the sustainability of forest ecosystems vital to Côte d’Ivoire’s development,” he said.
Joachim expressed concern over forest-related crimes, including poaching, bushfires, illegal sawmilling and trafficking activities that threaten forests, the environment and local communities.
Responding, CBBC Lead, Mr. Olatunji Francisco, said PPPF recently partnered with E LAFI Foundation on a tree-planting initiative to combat deforestation in Ivory Coast.
Francisco said CBBC is a pan-African, youth-led initiative promoting climate justice, cross-border cooperation and green economic transformation across the continent.
In a related development, the E LAFI SOU Foundation and People Planet and Peace Foundation (PPPF) have trained 100 indigene of Djebonoua community on agroforestry to tackle climate change.
The training, held on Sunday in Djebonoua, central Côte d’Ivoire, was aimed at equipping participants with practical knowledge and skills on strengthening climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
The training also equipped them with sustainable agricultural practices that promote environmental conservation and improved productivity.
Speaking at the event, President of E LAFI SOU Foundation, Mr. Koffi Matieu, said the programme was designed to help participants understand the fundamentals of agroforestry and effectively apply the concepts in their communities.
According to him, the initiative seeks to enhance participants’ capacity to design and implement agroforestry systems that are adapted to local realities and environmental challenges.
A forest expert and guest speaker at the event, Mr. Kotne Arthur, described agroecology as an integrated approach that applies ecological principles to the design and sustainable management of agricultural systems.
He said agroecology optimises interactions among plants, animals, humans and the environment, thereby improving productivity, resilience, biodiversity and sustainability.
Arthur noted that mitigation and adaptation remained two complementary strategies in addressing climate change.
“Mitigation focuses on addressing the causes of climate change, while adaptation focuses on responding to its consequences,” he said.
He urged participants to put the knowledge acquired during the training into practice in their farming activities.
“The certificates you are receiving today belong to you, but applying what you have learnt will benefit both you and your community in the fight against climate change,” he said.
In another development, the Sub-Prefect of Djebonoua, Mrs. Karamoko Sinia, pledged to intensify advocacy against indiscriminate tree felling in the community during a visit by members of the Cross Border Business and Biodiversity Coalition (CBBC).
Sinia said Djebonoua remained the leading producer of tomatoes in Côte d’Ivoire but faced major challenges, including post-harvest losses and inadequate water supply for farming.
“Although we produce more tomatoes than other communities, our farmers earn little due to wastage. Water scarcity is also a major challenge affecting agricultural production,” she said.
Responding, CBBC Secretary in Nigeria, Miss Kumuyi Olabisi, assured the community of PPPF’s support in addressing some of the identified challenges.
She said the organisation would assist in providing water reservoirs for irrigation and also support initiatives in maternal and child healthcare.
Olabisi added that the foundation would explore ways of assisting farmers with tomato preservation facilities to reduce post-harvest losses and improve incomes.
By Gabriel Agbeja
