Jacques Assahore Konan has warned that Côte d’Ivoire has lost between 80 and 90 per cent of its forest cover since independence, with forested land shrinking from about 16 million hectares to nearly three million hectares.
Speaking during a meeting over the week-end with forestry stakeholders in the western city of Man, the Minister of Water and Forests described the degradation of the country’s forests as alarming despite efforts and resources invested in conservation.
He urged stakeholders to intensify the fight against deforestation, warning that increasing pressure on forests, deteriorating water resources and declining biodiversity require urgent action. Konan stressed that the sustainable protection of forests and biodiversity remains essential for the country’s environmental future.
Authorities say Côte d’Ivoire has for years faced severe forest depletion, largely driven by uncontrolled and excessive exploitation of forest resources.