BACKGROUND
Côte d'Ivoire's forest cover has been declining dramatically since 1960. With an estimated forest area of around 16 million hectares in 1900, Côte d'Ivoire has only 2.97 million hectares available for agricultural activities (IFFN, 2021). The annual deforestation rate is high, at around 3.04% (FAO et al, 2017), yet forests play a vital role in community development. Indeed, they offer a wide variety of ecosystem goods and services to riparian populations. Despite initiatives to preserve natural resources in Côte d'Ivoire, some regions in the West are experiencing numerous conflicts linked to the illicit occupation of sacred areas and forests.
In an attempt to prevent these conflicts, which undermine efforts at peace and social cohesion, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has initiated a youth project aimed at contributing to the sustainable management of sacred forests with a view to enhancing cultural heritage in the Biankouma department.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the project is to help reduce the risk of conflicts linked to the desecration and exploitation of sacred forests in the Biankouma department, through the implementation of protection and sustainable forest management activities.
RESULTS
- 1,000 young people supported in the development of income-generating activities (IGA) linked to the protection of natural resources.
- 100 young people trained as nurserymen to produce forest seedlings.
- Delimitation of 5 sacred forests using living hedges of forest seedlings and geolocation data of sacred forest boundaries recorded in a database.
- Installation and support of five (05) committees to protect forests and sacred sites.
- Reforestation and rehabilitation of at least seven (07) ha of degraded sacred forests and community plots.
Associated Projects
