The national animal extinct in the country
Thanks to its rich diversity of ecosystems, Togo is home to many animal species.
There are no less than 196 species of mammals and 676 species of birds. Two species of amphibians are even endemic (Arthroleptis brevipe and Hyperolius laticeps
). Thanks to its deep waters, its marine fauna is also exceptionally rich. Four species of migratory turtles come to lay their eggs or feed on the Togolese coast, but dolphins and whales can also be seen. Its many rivers attract hippos, crocodiles and manatees.Unfortunately, this rich fauna is constantly threatened, notably by the destruction of its habitat, but also, in a less pronounced way, by poaching. Elephants, the main victims, are stripped of their precious ivory. Poaching of elephant tusks remains superficial in Togo today, which acts more as a hub for Central Africa, where the pachyderm population has declined by 60% in just ten years. Togo has the only deep-water port in the region, and the precious tusks are shipped to Asian markets. It is estimated that over 40 tons of ivory were seized in Togo between 2008 and 2018. The government is embarrassed by this black market, which it strongly condemns, and although it regularly makes seizures, it attributes the decline in tourism to this activity. The giant beloved by tourists is becoming scarce, with an estimated population of only 115 individuals in protected areas, concentrated in particular in the strictly protected area of Fazao-Malfakassa National Park
. However, poaching is not the main burden on Togo's animals. The destruction of habitats, both aquatic and terrestrial, and in particular deforestation, are clearly responsible for the slaughter of the species. If the chimpanzee, the Derby eland or the leopard have disappeared in the wild, there is a particular symbolism to the desertion of the African lion, the country's national animal.The ecological paradise in the grip of human exploitation
The elongated shape of Togo and its tropical climate give it a great environmental diversity. In the north, there is an expanse of savannah, while the coast is more marshy with fascinating mangroves formed by mangrove trees that the immense aerial roots allow to fix to the ground. Human development has not spared this fragile ecosystem, particularly because of port activities, the Nangbeto electric dam and the expansion of areas dedicated to agriculture.
It is this same human development that explains the phenomenon of deforestation which today threatens the local fauna and flora. Every year, about 2,500 ha are replaced by agricultural, industrial or urban areas. The population explosion is largely responsible, but also poverty, which leads to the abusive exploitation of natural resources, unsustainable agricultural practices and the overexploitation of wood used as fuel for charcoal, on which the population largely depends.
However, the Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources is working to correct this phenomenon, with a commitment to reforest 1.4 million hectares by 2030. The efforts are already being felt: from 9,300 ha of trees cut down each year in the 1990s, to 2,500 in the 2000s. At the same time, nurserymen are working hand in hand with the government, and have produced 10 million seedlings of different species by 2021, to be replanted. However, many ecologists today do not consider this progress to be up to the challenge.Natural parks in Togo
However, there are still places in Togo where nature can flourish without having to be wary of man, since the country has a few nature reserves and parks, which cover 14% of the territory. However, some areas are free to enter and not very regulated, so that it is estimated that only 10% of the territory is really protected.
The largest of the three national parks is Fazao-Malfakassa,
founded in 1975 and known for its many antelope species. This area was once home to a very large population of elephants, which has been drastically reduced due to poaching. The smallest of the parks, the Fosse aux Lions, is located in a savannah area in the north of the country. Like Togo, it is home to many species despite its modest size. Warthogs, antelopes, elephants and monkeys live there happily. The Kéran National Park is now 64 ha, but at one time it was almost three times as large. After the 1960s, the park was expanded several times, without consulting or involving the local population, so that they went from being the beneficiaries of the project to being its victims. In order to expand the park's boundaries, the local population was displaced and lost their agricultural land, without receiving any alternative solutions. In addition, many animals, especially elephants, were leaving the park and raiding the agricultural areas due to the lack of fences. Instead of a sustainable project, the park thus sowed poverty, hunger and instability. The hostility of the indigenous people reached a point of no return in 1990 when a population uprising took place against a background of political instability, destroying areas of the park and killing animals en masse, so that the park's boundaries had to be drastically reduced in 1999. Today, institutions are trying to develop ecotourism in the area in order to reconcile social and environmental issues.The country most threatened by climate change
According to the JRC, the European Union's scientific and technical research laboratory, Togo is the country with the highest vulnerability score to climate change. The political response is well underway, and moreover financially supported by the European Union through several projects. Together, they have launched the Climate Change Support Program (PALCC), which the European Union's AMCCC+ is funding to the tune of 10 million euros. The comprehensive program includes energy management changes, including the use of coal, which is still widely used, and conservation of protected areas. To ensure its sustainability, the program makes sure to include the populations, especially the local residents, in the projects concerning the national parks, and to avoid a disaster like the one in the Kéran National Park from happening again. Once again, Togo is learning from its mistakes and showing real ambition to build a sustainable environmental policy.
