The Ministry of Water and Forests of Côte d'Ivoire has recently launched the "1 day, 5 million trees" operation, in partnership with the African Hevea Plantation Society of Côte d'Ivoire (SAPH), a subsidiary of the International Society of Hevea Plantations (SIPH). The initiative aims to improve forest cover in this West African country.
The new “1 day, 5 million trees” reforestation project in Côte d’Ivoire was launched on August 3, 2020 in Bongo, in the Integrated Agricultural Unit (IAU) of the African Rubber Plantation Society of Côte d’Ivoire (SAPH). The subsidiary of the International Rubber Plantation Society (SIPH), is 55.59% owned by the agro-industrial group Sifca of Côte d’Ivoire.
The government’s initiative follows the agreement signed on June 21, 2020 between the Ministry of Water and Forests of Côte d’Ivoire and the Sifca Group for the rehabilitation and preservation of forests in Côte d’Ivoire. The public-private partnership (PPP) is planned to last 5 years. The PPP will enable the reconstitution of the national forest cover, environmental education of young people in schools, particularly in the areas where Sifca group subsidiaries are located.
Already in 2019, a similar initiative was launched by the Sifca group on the SAPH IAU. Called “1 day, 1 million trees”, the operation made it possible to cultivate 800 teak plants in the site’s biodiversity zones. Teak produces a precious, rot-proof wood recommended for both boat decks and garden furniture.
To date, the Sifca Group has over 4,650 hectares of preserved forests on its sites in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria.
Inès Magoum
