KfW Development Bank

Project Information

framework in the park that has been supported for Biodiversity – Côte d'Ivoire many years by German Development Cooperation (DC) via KfW Development Bank (KfW) and the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), together with Conservation of biodiversity in the Taï-Grebo-Sapo Rainforest Complex nature conservation organisations. The parks in the region and their unique biodiversity are Côte d'Ivoire is one of the countries in Western Af- under enormous pressure. Because the population is rica with abundant bio resources. The Taï National growing and looking for economic activity, forest areas Park is one of the last contiguous rainforest areas in the immediate vicinity of the Taï National Park were in the region. It is thus of global significance for na- cleared. Considerable forest areas that once surroun- ture and climate protection. However, the area is ded and protected the Taï National Park were gradually at risk from the high level of use in the peripheral converted into cultivated farmland and into cocoa, park zones and the resulting islandisation of the coffee and palm oil plantations. The rainforest, which forest areas. KfW is helping to improve the condi- formerly covered large parts of the country, has thus tions for preserving biodiversity in the region been pushed back in recent decades and now compri- through the planned establishment of an ecologi-

cal corridor between the Taï National Park and the Grebo Krahn National Park in neighbouring Libe- Project name Conservation of biodiversity in ria. the Taï-Grebo-Sapo Rainforest Complex

Commissioned Federal Ministry for Current situation by Economic Cooperation The Taï National Park and the neighbouring N'Zo Re- and Development (BMZ) serve accommodate an animal and plant paradise that stretches over 5,360,000 square kilometres: forest ele- Country/Region Côte d‘Ivoire phants and chimpanzees are among the 145 proven mammal species, some of which - like the pygmy hip- popotamus - only live here. There are also more than Project partner Ministry of Education (MINEDD)

230 bird species, an incredible variety of insects and spiders as well as 1,200 plant species. While otherwise endangered species often die out, new ones are constantly being discovered here. The Taï National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 because of its importance for biodiversity and because of the many species that can only be found here. Biomonitoring teams that patrol the Taï National Park are constantly expanding their knowledge of the rainfo- rest's ecology: for example, they have discovered that the Taï chimpanzees use natural tools to crack nuts with. The teams belong to the park management

As at: 09/2019 Profile Municipal and social infrastructure

is considered to be the best protected national park in the country, not least because of the many years of German development cooperation in the park. To coun- ter the threat posed to the park by increasing islandisa- tion, German DC, via KfW Development Bank, is now supporting the establishment of an ecological corridor to neighbouring Liberia. This corridor would link the pro- tected areas and thereby enable the different animal populations of the park to mingle.

The proposed status of the Réserve Naturelle

Taï National Park. Source: Office Ivoirien des Parcs et Réserves (OIPR) Volontaire is the best way of involving local authorities in managing natural resources and giving them an ses a few islands. Today, the Taï National Park is one active role to play in local decision-making. of the most significant of these rainforest islands in Côte Involving the population in managing the corridor and in d‘Ivoire. Together with the Grepo-Krahn National Park information campaigns should increase the and the Sapo National Park in Liberia, it is part of the environmental awareness of the local residents*, last remaining band of rainforest in West Africa. mitigate the pressure to use the protected area and ensure a socially compatible design of the corridor.

Project approach

To rectify the island nature of the park, German DC is supporting the planned establishment of an ecological corridor between the Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire and the newly founded Grebo-Krahn National Park in neighbouring Liberia. The aim is to create the conditi- ons for permanently improved links between the protec- ted areas and to contribute to preserving biodiversity in the region. Led by the Côte d'Ivoire Ministry of the Environment, a comprehensive and participatory study was carried out as part of the project to examine the possibilities of establishing such a corridor between the Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire and the Grebo Krahn National Park in Liberia. The results of this study recommend the establishment of a corridor along the Saro River, which flows from the Taï National Park to the Cavally river at the border. It would have the status of a voluntary natu- re reserve (Réserve Naturelle Volontaire) and be estab- lished with the close involvement of the local populati- on. To finance the construction of this corridor and the ope- rating costs for its maintenance, financing of EUR 5 Contact million was made available at the Côte d'Ivoire En- KfW Group KfW Development Bank vironmental Foundation, the Fondation pour les Parcs Palmengartenstrasse 5–9 et Réserve et Réserves en Côte d'Ivoire (FPRCI). D-60325 Frankfurt am Main Phone +49 69 7431 2062

Impact Biodiversity, Agriculture and Water The Taï National Park is one of the largest protected Sarah_Luisa.Senz@kfw .de rainforests in Western Africa today. At the same time, it

As at: 09/2019