During a visit to Man on Saturday, May 9, 2026, the Minister of Water and Forests, Assahoré Konan Jacques , delivered a frank speech to forestry agents and SODEFOR (Forestry Development Corporation) executives in the Tonkpi region. Faced with the climate emergency, the Minister is now imposing rigorous management based on concrete performance indicators.

An alarming observation: the end of visual flight rules

The minister did not mince words regarding the state of Ivory Coast's natural heritage. The decline is staggering:

1. Original forest cover: approximately 16 million hectares.
2. Current cover: nearly 3 million hectares.
3. Overall loss: between 80% and 90% of the forest area since independence.

For Assahoré Konan Jacques, simply being present in the office is no longer enough. The forestry administration must shift from a culture of presence to a culture of results .

Priority to efficiency and follow-up

The minister stressed that success is not measured by the number of planting ceremonies, but by the actual survival of the trees and the effective protection of the classified areas.

"It's not enough to just plant. What is the survival rate? This data must be essential," he insisted.

From now on, the evaluation of forestry services will be based on specific criteria:

1. Areas actually protected against attacks.
2. Success of reforestation operations (seedling survival rate).
3. Preservation of water resources and biodiversity.

A renewed local commitment

In response to these directives, the regional director of Water and Forests for Tonkpi, Djan Yapo Evariste , spoke on behalf of the agents from the region's five departments. He assured the minister of the full availability of his teams and of SODEFOR to translate these guidelines into concrete actions on the ground.

In short: The ministry is changing its paradigm. The protection of wildlife, flora and water resources in Tonkpi will now be subject to an obligation of measurable results, aimed at stopping the hemorrhage of the national forest cover.