Ivorian ecosystems
The Ivorian territory is schematically divided into two ecosystems: the Guinean domain (forest landscape) and the Sudanese domain (savannah landscape). Both offer a great diversity of plant formations
The Guinean estate. It includes four main types of training. In the south, the dense humid forest which is characterized by the presence of several strata and trees with stilt or buttress roots. Trees can reach fifty meters or more in height. The mesophilic forest, which stretches from Man to Bondoukou via Séguéla, Bouaflé, Singrobo and Dimbokro. The savannas of the low coast cover a relatively large area of about one hundred thousand hectares. Situated between the two large estates, Guinean and Sudanese, the Guinean pre-forest district is characterized by a mosaic of islands of mesophilic forest and savannah interspersed with gallery forests.
The sub-Sudanese and Sudanese domains. They consist of a juxtaposition of forest and savannah formations. Nowadays, the vegetal landscape is mainly made up of the different types of savannah: the whole northern Ivory Coast is the domain of open forests and the savannahs derived from them. There are four types of savannah: wooded, tree-covered, shrubby and grassy.
Massive deforestation over time
Today, 80% of Côte d'Ivoire's forests have disappeared in 50 years, under the axe of loggers, fire and the machete of planters. Deforestation has considerably disrupted the Ivorian plant landscape, especially in the south, and between 1880 and 1991 melted the 16 million hectares of primary forest to a few shreds of secondary forest, isolated between plantations and fallow land. The 454 000 hectares of the Taï National Park in the south-west of the country are the last remnant of the former Guinean primary forest block in the country. The same is true of the forest and savannah formations, which now cover less than 3 million hectares.
A fauna of forests and savannahs
Côte d'Ivoire has 710 species of birds and 232 species of mammals. The mammals are divided into 17 species of primates, 19 species of antelopes, 12 species of chiropterans and 184 other species of different orders. The Taï National Park alone, for example, has 47 species of mammals out of the 54 known for the Guinean zone, and 231 species of birds, most of them éthiopiennes ; with, in many cases, a subspecies typical of West Africa.
The main characteristic of the Ivorian fauna is the diversity of species that can be found there. The existence of large rivers is said to have acted as geographical barriers, multiplying subspecies in several genera, particularly in monkeys. The interpenetration of the different plant environments ensures the transition between the dense humid forest and the Sudanese savannah. The progression of the savannah zone, the "V" baoulé, is said to have led to the presence of animal species from the Sudanese environment in the centre of the country.
The problems of cohabitation and poaching
But intensive colonial hunting with guns and then poaching decimated the country of its wild animals. According to one of the few studies on the subject, in the Lamto region alone, of the 63 mammal species present before 1950, only 36 still existed in 1990, 13 of which were exceptional. The loss in species diversity is even more pronounced if we look only at large and medium-sized mammals: 39 species present before 1950 and only 14 in 1990, 8 of which are exceptional.
The problem of the relationship between park managers and the populations living on their periphery cannot be ignored. For these populations, such as the Lobis in Comoé National Park, hunting, associated with the cultivation of the land, is often the only means of subsistence, and the fact that it is prohibited deprives them of a source of food and even income. These populations therefore tend to view protected areas as obstacles and constraints. In response, they poach and sometimes lobby for the partial decommissioning of land in order to expand their activities (cultivation, hunting). Two types of poaching coexist: first, occasional "family" poaching. This is most often a traditional activity using somewhat archaic methods or rustic weapons. Its product is essentially absorbed by family consumption, although any surplus is sold along the communication routes. Then comes commercial poaching, practised with modern weapons and much more destructive than the previous one, with poachers putting themselves at the service of traders and persons of a privileged rank who supply them with arms and ammunition.The elephant, emblem of the country in the process of extinction
The elephant, the national emblem that gave its name to the country, so numerous were the pachyderms when the settlers arrived, is in serious danger of extinction in the country. Côte d'Ivoire even has two species: the savannah elephant(Loxodonta africana) and the forest elephant(Lonxodonta cyclotis). But of the hundred thousand elephants present at the beginning of the century in Côte d'Ivoire, there were only 1,139 individuals in 26 habitats in 2000. There are only 300 today, reduced to a few of the most remote and inaccessible habitats. In the classified forests of Téné, Bolo, Okromodou and in the national parks of Marahoué and Azagny, there is no trace of the pachyderm, already sadly extinct. The relics of existing groups number only 3 to 6 elephants as opposed to the dozens usually buried on the borders of the Comoé National Parks and the Taï forest. In addition, outside the protected areas, the last elephants are exposed to angry populations as they destroy their crops. About ten human-elephant conflicts are reported every year in the country. In addition, the demand for Asian ivory, which is still very strong, is boosting elephant poaching in Africa. Côte d'Ivoire wants to adopt a law on elephant conservation in 2019, but these efforts may come too late given the urgency. Internationally, Côte d'Ivoire is one of nine African countries that are calling for the listing of all elephants in CITES Appendix 1 - the most protective - which calls for a total ban on the sale of ivory.
A great potential of parks and reserves
The first wildlife reserves date back to 1953: those of Bouna and Haut-Sassandra (currently the Comoé and Taï National Parks) and the Banco National Park. The other protected territories of parks and reserves were classified in 1968 and 1981. These 8 national parks and 6 fauna and flora reserves cover an area of 21 038 km², or 6.53% of the territory, and present a large sampling of the different ecosystems of Côte d'Ivoire.
The term "diagonal écologique " was also used to designate the distribution drawn by the two parks of Comoé (in Sudanese savannah) and Taï (in dense rainforest), representative of the country's two major biotopes. Three protected areas in Côte d'Ivoire are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Comoé and Taï National Parks, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve).
ComoéNational Park (1 149 150 ha ). Planned as early as 1926 and founded in 1953 as the "Bouna Reserve", Comoé National Park was renamed in 1968. It is one of the oldest natural parks in the country, but also by far the largest. It is one of the most beautiful sanctuaries of West African biodiversity, classified by UNESCO. It is distinguished by its remarkable diversity of fauna and flora along the Comoé River, which stretches for nearly 230 km. There are 620 plant species, 135 species of mammals, 35 species of amphibians, 60 species of fish, 3 species of crocodiles, 500 species of birds and many insects such as termites. Among the large mammals are elephant, leopard, chimpanzee, wild dog, hornbill, various antelopes, among the remarkable birds, Denhan's bustard, white-breasted guinea fowl and jabiru, and as a reptile, the forest dwarf crocodile. Not easily accessible to tourists, it is also located in a high-risk area bordering Burkina Faso, which has been prey to multiple terrorist attacks since 2018. So much so that in 2019, all the park's stakeholders, prefects, researchers and military organizations, met to discuss the problem. A total of 300 additional Ivorian military personnel were deployed for the "watertight border" operation in June.
Taï National Park(454 000 ha ). This extraordinary park on the border with Liberia, a biosphere reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the last remnant of the primary forest that lined the south of the country before its massive deforestation. Interesting mammals can be seen here: the pygmy hippopotamus, the zebra duiker, the jentink and bogon antelopes, and the cute petaurist (night flying squirrel). But above all many monkeys, starting with the star the chimpanzee (the common species Pan troglodytes and the dwarf species or bonobo Pan paniscus), the mangabe, the white and black colobus, the Van Beneden colobus, the diane cercopithecus, the Campbellx mone... There is a community ecotourism project in Taï with night at the inhabitant's home and visits with eco-guides. There is also a comfortable ecolodge and a modest Catholic mission.
Marahoué National Park (101 000 ha ). Located in the centre of the country, near Yamoussoukro and the great lake of Kossou, it has some rare elephants, bongos and waterbucks (type of antelope) and buffalo. There is a reception centre at the main entrance, as well as high observation points, an elephant pond and a picnic area.
Mount Sangbé National Park (95 000 ha ). Situated in the mountainous region between Man and Seguela, it is covered with a very dense forest and counts elephants, buffaloes, leopards, chimpanzees, baboons, hartebeests, buffon cobs, hippotracs, harnessed guibs, ewes, and royal antelopes. Its difficulty of access has not yet allowed for the development of tourism.
Mount Peko National Park (34 000 ha ). In the northern extension of the Thai forest towards Man, it shelters chimpanzees, leopards, duikers, pygmy hippopotamuses, buffaloes... No tourist value currently.
Azagny National Park(19 850 ha ). Located on the coast between Abidjan and San Pedro, towards Grand Laou, it has lakes, the wonderful mouth of the Bandama river, and offers sublime landscapes. It has lakes, the marvellous mouth of the Bandama River, and offers sublime landscapes. It is home to important avifauna in the dry season (migration site), buffaloes, forest elephants, chimpanzees, and rare manatees protected by the Ramsar project. It is equipped with observation terraces and watchtowers, river walks and boat trips can be made, and hikes can be organized from nearby Grand Lahou.
Banco National Park (3 200 ha ). Located in the heart of Abidjan, green lung and water reserve, it is paradoxically a primary forest reserve still intact with rare species (mahogany, aboridae). Ony observes many birds and monkeys of all kinds. Rather luxurious hotels and hiking trails exist here
Ehotilé Islands National Park (550 ha). Located on the eponymous lagoon near Assinie, it is an archipelago of six islands and the lagoon's periphery. It is home to 138 species of birds, many of which are migratory in season, mammals such as the cephalopod and the bushpig (a kind of warthog), but above all a large colony of bats Palm fruit bats and manatees protected by the Ramsar project. The riverside population of the park, spread over 21 villages, is 30,000 inhabitants living from traditional fishing. Tourists are welcome for boat trips and guided hikes from Assinie
Haut Bandama Reserve(123 000 ha) . Situated in the north between Bouaké and Khorogo, towards Katiola, it is made up of gallery forests bordering the Bandama River and Sudanese savannah. The region is very wild and not touristy
N'Zo Reserve (96 000 ha ). The partial N'Zo Wildlife Reserve is actually adjacent to the Taï National Park. It is covered by a dense evergreen rainforest and has the same fauna. It is not currently visited
Abokouamékro Wildlife Reserve (20 430 ha ). Located near Yamoussoukro, in a savannah environment, it was created by Houphouët-Boigny in 1986 for the purpose of making tourist photo safaris. Its fauna comes from the national parks of Côte d'Ivoire and South Africa. Nearly 757 animals belonging to 16 species were gradually introduced until 1993, but it then suffered from poaching in the troubled years. It is still home to buffalo, hartebeest, antelope and cobs mainly, but also to some rare surviving giraffes and white rhinos. The visit with a guide and armed ranger is possible on foot or by 4x4, as is the camping.
Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve(5 000 ha ). Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is located on the borders of Guinea, Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire, and includes the area around Mount Nimba, which rises to 1,752 metres (the highest peak in the country). The reserve is home to a rich flora, with dense forest lining the massif up to 1,000 m, and then by a mountain forest rich in epiphytes. It counts especially endemic species such as the viviparous toad or chimpanzees, which use stones as tools here! Due to its sensitive geographical location at the borders of the three borders, no tourist visits are planned there.
Lamto Strict Nature Reserve(2 585 ha ). Located at the southern tip of the V Baoulé south of Yamoussoukro, it houses an ecology station and a geophysical station and since 1961 it has hosted research programmes on tropical savannah ecosystems. It is an easily accessible site that can be visited, where a large population of buffaloes and buffon cobs live together
Partial nature reserve of Dahlia flowers (148 ha). The last of the reserves created in 2004 is tiny and located on the outskirts of Abidjan. It is home to 15 species of mammals, 69 species of birds and is especially conducive to walks to get some fresh air and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the capital.
