National parks and biodiversity preservation
Benin's national parks are part of the largest protected area in West Africa, namely the W-Arly - Pendjari complex (WAP), classified in 2018 as a Unesco World Heritage Site. It includes the majority of the country's forests, relics of ancient forests and biodiversity treasures. The W National Park, named after one of the shapes taken by the meandering Niger River on its territory, is a transboundary protected area, shared with Niger and Burkina Faso. It is renowned for its megafauna (lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes). However, it is not immune to anthropogenic pressures and poaching is still rampant. Human-elephant conflicts also occur on the periphery of the park on varying scales. Programs exist to manage these conflicts, in which ecovolunteers can participate(www.ecobenin.org). Pendjari National Park
is also home to a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. The savannah ecosystems are home to cheetahs, symbols of the park. Ecotourism projects are also being developed on these territories in order to reconcile the protection of the environment and the reception of visitors.The botanical garden of the University of Abomey-Calavi
preserves an important collection of medicinal plants, the basis of traditional medicine. It also contributes to the development of research and environmental awareness. Multi-partner projects are also carried out at the territorial level. This is the case of the BIODEV2030 project, launched in the summer of 2021. Developed following a study to assess the state of biodiversity, this nationwide action program brings together public and private sector players, academics, representatives of civil society, and technical and financial partners. The aim is to deploy actions in sectors with strong impacts identified during the study phase (agriculture, fishing, forestry, urbanization). This program is also being tested in 15 other countries. For more information, visit www.biodev2030.orgFacing deforestation
Deforestation is an important issue in Benin. Forests represent energy, food and medicinal resources. They are also sources of income and employment, through the export of precious wood (teak, gmelina), shea butter and other products from forest ecosystems. The country also has 3,000 sacred forests, which have a religious dimension for certain communities and are protected by law.
The country's deforestation rate of 2.2% remains high. The forest lost 20% of its surface area between 2005 and 2015. The deforestation is mainly linked to agriculture (slash and burn), to the exploitation of the resource (timber, energy wood, cooking wood), but also to illegal exploitation, and this, in a context of population growth.
Mangroves are not spared from deforestation. These remarkable wetlands have regressed in a worrying way. They have lost 30% of their surface area in twenty years. The destruction of these environments, which act as reservoirs of biodiversity, carbon sinks and protection against coastal erosion, is mainly due to coastal activities, such as fishing and salt farming. The open-air salt factories need an abundant use of firewood.
Faced with this situation, concrete actions are being taken. The country has thus modified its forestry code and its tax system in this area. In 2016, the cutting of mangrove and coconut trees in the mangroves was banned, but the alarming deforestation continues. Mangrove restoration projects are emerging, led by associations and institutions, in partnership with the university. Sustainable plantation programs (teak) have been created. A start-up, "Eco-Sika coal" produces coal from plant waste, which has the virtue of both creating jobs and avoiding the cutting of wood. Among the many initiatives in place in the country, there is also a group of women who process cassava and use a biodigester instead of a wood-burning stove, which preserves the resource and the health of the women.Issues related to urbanization
The change in land use, and more specifically urbanization, often carried out in an anarchic manner, weakens biodiversity. Anthropic pressure is particularly strong on the country's coastline, where the majority of the population is concentrated. Urbanization leads to fragmentation but also to the degradation of natural environments (including mangroves), especially when wastewater and waste management is insufficient or non-existent. To counter this, regulations have been put in place (land code and municipal by-laws) to protect certain coastal areas. Thus, a municipal decree prohibits certain human activities and occupations around Lake Nokoué, even though it is not often respected.
Preventing pollution
The country has put in place concrete actions to reduce pollution, whose consequences are not only environmental but also health-related. In order to fight against air pollution in Cotonou, the ministry in charge of the environment has taken a series of measures, including a polluter-pays operation, the deployment of public transport, the training of drivers and mechanics, and air quality monitoring, which have had beneficial effects (reduction of certain pollutants). In terms of waste management, developments are also taking place. The lack of a waste management system has led to open dumps that are regularly burned. A project has started in 2019 to set up a solid waste management system (pre-collection, collection and burial) combined with street cleaning operations. The objective is to collect 90% of the waste in 5 cities of the Grand Nokoué (Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Ouidah, Abomey-Calavi, Sèmè-Kpodji).
