Jacques Assahoré Konan: A New Ambition for Our Forests

A legacy to rebuild: six decades of hard work

SSixty years ago, Côte d'Ivoire laid the foundations for a monumental ambition: to manage, protect, and enhance its forest estate. The Société de développement des forêts (Sodefor), created in the heart of the 1960s, established itself as a bulwark against the erosion of vegetation cover. Today, this anniversary is not just a simple ceremonial celebration. It is a time for stocktaking, but also the moment to lay the foundations for a more aggressive and resilient strategy. Jacques Assahoré Konan, Director General of the institution, proclaims it loud and clear: the time is no longer for observation, but for reconquest.

A shock strategy for a continental challenge

The findings are clear: anthropogenic pressures and climate change have weakened ecosystems. Faced with this reality, Sodefor is deploying an ambitious action plan. The vision carried by the general management is structured around more technocratic and rigorous management of classified forests. The objective is crystal clear: to combine the strict protection of biodiversity with the socio-economic development imperatives of local populations. Jacques Assahoré Konan insisted on this necessity: > “We must turn our forests, not into spaces sanctified in oblivion, but into engines of sustainable growth for future generations.”

Towards an ethic of modern silviculture

The transition to a “new forest era” requires a break with the methods of the past. Sodefor is now banking on innovation, satellite monitoring, and increased surveillance against illegal logging. It is no longer just a question of planting trees, but of territorial governance. The Ivorian model, if it manages to establish itself over time, could serve as a benchmark for West Africa. The challenge is immense, but the determination shown by the Sodefor teams shows that environmental awareness has finally established itself as a pillar of national policy.

The tree, a pillar of national identity

Beyond the figures and the hectares reforested, Sodefor carries a strong symbolic weight. For the Ivorian government, the forest is not just an exploitable resource; it is the lungs of a nation in the midst of change. By calling for this new dynamic, Jacques Assahoré Konan invites every citizen and every economic partner to redefine their relationship with the land. This shift towards integrated management marks, in short, the maturity of an institution that has weathered the storms of the century to become the architect of tomorrow's Ivorian landscape.