Toute l'actualitéCôte d'Ivoire is one of the most deforested countries in the world, a situation caused by agriculture ( notably cocoa cultivation), logging (to supply the population with firewood) but by the expansion of infrastructures.
In order to support the Ministry of Water and Forests in the implementation of its Strategy for the Preservation, Rehabilitation and Extension of Forests, the company Agromap, financially supported by Reforest'Action, continues its efforts to restore forest ecosystems.
During Summer 2021, more than 2,400 hectares of land have been reforested around the villages of Agboville, Abengourou and Adzope.
Implementing agroforestry for the benefit of local producers
To this day, the project has enabled 3,820 producers to engage in agroforestry, a method that limits the negative effects of deforestation: soil erosion and impoverishment, drought, reduced rainfall, development of diseases, loss of biodiversity, etc.
From a socio-economic point of view, this approach will contribute to the sustainability of the crops. It will also increase the resilience of producers by diversifying their sources of income.
In order to involve local communities in the long term, Agromap continues to raise awareness on the benefits of agroforestry, planting methods and the maintenance of young plants to ensure the long-term value of the trees.
In parallel, food crops are planted. Bananas, maize and tomatoes are being grown in order to make the most of the benefits of the trees planted in agroforestry by Agromap.
Empowering local communities
Agromap also raises communities’ awareness on the necessity to adopt sustainable forestry practices, in order to reduce the pressure on forests.
The project provides employment to young people of the region, who are directly involved in planting sessions. While various sylvicultural operations carried out, they have the opportunity to improve their technical and operational skills in the field. The project also gives them an opportunity to participate to a program implemented by Agromap and dedicated to forest protection as well as agroecosystems sustainability.
Planting sessions are important events for the communities, as demonstrated by the planting ceremonies organised in early autumn 2021 in the department of Adzopé, to which the Minister of Water and Forests participated.
News from the Séguié and Rasso classified forests
Between July and September 2021, the restoration of the classified forests of Seguie and Rasso, located near the 3 villages involved in the project, has continued. Native species were planted by local communities in these protected ecosystems: 15,676 trees were introduced on 14.11 hectares.
