BACKGROUND
Côte d'Ivoire's forest cover has declined dramatically since 1960. With an estimated forest area of around 16 million hectares just after independence, Côte d'Ivoire now has 2.97 million hectares, largely attributable to agricultural activities, more specifically cocoa farming (IFFN, 2021).
Mangrove forests are not immune to this degradation. They shrank from 500 km2 to around 30 km2 in 2013. This represents a reduction of almost 95% in less than 50 years, and the rate of degradation continues to accelerate. Today, they occupy a very restricted and extremely threatened zone along the Ivorian coastline, due to exponential demographic growth on the coastal fringe, despite the 1,000-fold important role they play in mitigating climate change.
Faced with this situation, and with the aim of supporting the government's efforts to restore Côte d'Ivoire's forest cover, BLUE FOREST and AGRO-MAP have implemented a forest cover and mangrove restoration project in the Sud Comoé region of Côte d'Ivoire.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the project is to generate carbon credits by ensuring better management of the mangrove forests on the outskirts of the Ehotilés Islands National Park, and then to transform the farms in the area.
- Strengthen biodiversity conservation and reduce degradation in forests and mangrove ecosystems (conservation);
- Producing sustainable cocoa that respects the environment (sustainability) ;
- Strengthen and increase the sustainability of the livelihoods of communities located in and around mangrove ecosystems (development);
- Assessing the carbon credit generated by restored and conserved mangrove forests
EXPECTED RESULTS
- At least 1,000 people in the communities have diversified sources of income;
- The carbon stock generated by the project is assessed;
Mangrove restoration:
- Two (02) communities of 1,000 inhabitants sensitized and trained;
- 100,000 propagules collected for mangrove restoration ;
- 10 ha of mangrove forests restored.
Agroforestry for cocoa farmers:
- 750 cocoa farmers sensitized and trained;
- 60,000 forest and fruit plants available
- 1,500 ha of cocoa plots benefit from forest and fruit seedlings.
Associated Projects
