Gagnoa: The Minister of Water and Forests launches the forest restoration project
Faced with the challenge of climate change and the need to restore Ivory Coast's forest cover, Ivory Coast and Germany, through the German Development Bank (KfW), have forged a strong partnership. This is the Goh Region Forest Restoration Project (PFR-GOH).
In effect since July 2025, for a period of three years, this project aims to restore 35,000 ha of forest and agroforestry, to secure rural land on 27,500 ha while improving the living conditions of the populations of the departments of Gagnoa and Oumé.
It is with this in mind that the Minister of Water and Forests Assahoré Jacques, accompanied by his colleague Bruno Koné, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production, proceeded on Monday, July 13, 2026, at the Laurent Gbagbo Square in Babré, to launch the forest restoration project in the Goh region.
This project is the result of Ivorian-German cooperation which, through its Ambassador to Ivory Coast Mathias Veltin, reflects his country's commitment to focusing the basis of this cooperation on forest protection, the fight against deforestation and sustainable development, which is part of a common vision to strengthen the climate resilience of Ivory Coast.
According to Mathias Veltin, the PFR Goh project is an opportunity for the people of the Goh region, because in addition to offering them free land certificates to secure their land, " it offers innovative levers for poverty reduction through the development of agroforestry and reforestation activities " .
That is why he thanked all the traditional chiefs who decided to invest in this project, especially since the Goh region has been facing the disappearance of most of its forests since 2016. This forest disaster makes Goh a priority region for reforestation.
It is therefore urgent to restore and preserve its forest cover. Thus, Assohoré Jacques and Bruno Koné called for a lasting alliance between agriculture and forestry.
" Our joint presence is a powerful symbol. It reflects the government's commitment to making agriculture and forestry not two separate sectors, but two pillars of the same ambition: to build a prosperous, resilient and sustainable Ivory Coast , " said the Minister of Water and Forests.
During this phase, the teams from the Ministry of Water and Forests will be accompanied by those from the Rural Forestry Agency (AFOR) to provide on-the-ground guidance to agricultural producers and local populations for reforestation.
Several donations were made as part of the project, including 4x4 vehicles, motorcycles, drones and topographic equipment.
Jacques Doukrou / © Gagnoa.net
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