National Policy on Forest Preservation, Rehabilitation and Expansion.

In a context of deforestation, accelerated urbanization growth, and the creation of new industrial zones and farms, the Ministry of Water and Forests brings in a new policy of Forest preservation, Rehabilitation and Expansion (PPREF), based upon the three following pillars: preservation of biodiversity; the maintenance of favorable climate for the developmentof socio-economical activities and agricultural area; and the respect of Côte d’Ivoire’s international commitments. In parallel, the four objectives settled for the policy are: preservation of biodiversity; National Climate Conducive to agricultural activities and living conditions; Compliance with international commitments; and Social & economic development.
The goal to preserve biodiversity seeks to preserve the diversity of ecosystems and both animal and plant species, considering the opportunities offered by genetic selection, to improve the performance of agriculture and forestry. The document also talks about protecting molecules which can be exploited for medicinal purposes by the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, the goal to ensure ‘’national climate’’ conducive to agricultural activities and living conditions is about preserving and restoring an environment conducive to the maintenance of prosperity of agricultural activities and living conditions, including prevention of pollution related diseases, soil protection, reduction of evapotranspiration, the regulation of the water cycle and floods of watercourses, the stopping of drought progression to the south. The third goal, to comply with “global climate” commitments, also seeks to comply with the commitments taken in the framework of the Paris Agreement of December 2015 to opt for « zero deforestation faming ». Finally, the socioeconomic objectives are focused to build the forest resources necessary for the maintenance and sustainable development of a competitive timber industry, to the satisfaction of wood energy of the people (firewoods, charcoal).
The implementation of this strategy is planned over 10 years and is suitable with the emergency program of the Strategic Development Plan of forest, wildlife and Water Resources sectors programmed for the period 2018-2045.