Under the leadership of its mayor, Dr. Ya Raphaël , the municipality of Ouellé has officially launched its reforestation campaign. This ambitious initiative marks a decisive turning point in the municipality's environmental strategy, aiming to heal the wounds of a long-neglected ecosystem.

The urgent need to act: The heavy legacy of gold mining

The forest cover of Ouellé has paid a heavy price for years of illegal gold mining . The visible and alarming consequences have prompted this vigorous reaction from the town council:

1. Barren soils: Profound degradation and loss of soil fertility.
2. Chemical pollution: Contamination of waterways by heavy metals.
3. Agricultural disaster: Massive abandonment of plots of land that have become unsuitable for cultivation.

A two-step strategy for an ecological renaissance

To reverse this trend, the town hall is deploying a restoration plan structured around two fundamental pillars:

1. Land rehabilitation: A technical process of treating degraded surfaces to prepare the land for new plant life.
2. Forest restoration: A planting campaign focused on adapted local species , guaranteeing sustainable restoration of the forest cover and protection of natural resources.

"This initiative lays the foundations for a sustainable transformation, aiming to restore ecological balance while creating a genuine green economy dynamic for our populations."

A project that was supported and rewarded

Ouellé's commitment has not gone unnoticed. At the 3rd edition of the Local Authorities Fair in September 2024, the municipality distinguished itself by winning, jointly, the Territorial Innovation Prize .

This prestigious prize comes with strategic support and a financial package of 5 million FCFA , crucial resources that will serve as a catalyst for this vast project to reclaim the Ivorian forest.