The North-East Zone Department presented the assessment of the mid-term implementation of the PNC's 2015-2024 Development and Management Plan (PAG) to the populations, prefectural authorities, local elected officials, and technical and financial partners.

On 25 March 2021, the 30th session (first of the 2021 fiscal year) of the Local Management Committee (CGL) of the Comoé National Park (PNC) was held at Dabakala Prefecture.

Chaired by Mr. KPAN Droh Joseph, Prefect of the Bounkani Region, Prefect of the Bouna Department, this meeting recorded the participation of fifteen (15) statutory members of the CGL including prefectural authorities from the departments of Kong, Nassian, Doropo, Doropo, Doropo, Doropo, Téhini and Dabakala, the representative of the Director General of the OIPR, the representatives of the Bounkani Regional Councils, Tchologo and Hambol, the Director of CRE, the Head of Province of Yalo (representing the local population), the President of the Regional Bureau of Hotel Industries of Gontougo, the President of the NGO DEPRERENAF. The other participants are technical and financial partners, namely GIZ/PRO2GRN, the representative of the NGO Nitidae, the representative of the President of the University Peleforo GON Coulibaly (UPGC) of Korhogo and the presidents of four (4) Village Associations, winners of the awards for the best villages for the conservation of the PNC.

During this important meeting, the mid-term review of the implementation of the PNC's 2015-2024 PAG was presented to the participants.

The status of the implementation of the key indicators was presented by Captain DAPLE Kouazeu Raoul, researcher at the DZNE. Out of a total of 14 key indicators, 8 have been fully achieved (57.14%), 3 have been partially achieved (21.43%), 2 are not achieved (14.29%) and 1 indicator (7.14%) requires evaluation at the end of the implementation of the PAG.

The summary of the implementation of the PAG that followed the presentation was carried out by Lt/Col. KOUADIO Yao Roger, Director of the North-East Zone of the OIPR. A financial balance sheet as well as the effects and impacts induced by the implementation of the PAG were explained.

Overall, the financial resources required for activities in the period 2015-2019 have been mobilized. The evaluation of the encounter rate of a selection of bio-indicator species (Bubales, Buffaloes, Buffaloes, Cob of Buffon, Elephant, Hippotrague) shows an increase in numbers between 14% and 254% which explains their good state of conservation. At the environmental level, the quality of the waters and the vegetation of the PNC are generally preserved and there is no agricultural encroachment. At the socio-economic level, there has been the creation of direct jobs during the implementation of management activities (surveillance, development, ecological monitoring, etc.) as well as the appearance of agricultural and livestock production centers on the periphery of the PNC (vegetable grower, honey, broilers, eggs, etc.). The implementation of the PAG has also had an impact on the empowerment of women and the reduction of arduous work and the improvement of access to water, education and health.

Some shortcomings and difficulties encountered in the implementation of the PAG concern the lack of staff at certain positions, the low contribution of own resources to the PNC's operating budget, the absence of private partners for the construction of tourist infrastructures, insufficient data on carnivores in the park, the increase in gold mining in the PNC and the surrounding regions, the absence of private partners for the construction of tourist infrastructures, insufficient data on carnivores in the park, the resurgence of gold mining in the PNC and the surrounding regions, the inoperable internal PNC trails, etc.

Several challenges must be met, among others: obtaining the Green List label before 2023 and RAMSAR before 2024, partially covering the operating budget by PNC's own resources in 2025, developing “Local Tourism”, strengthening communication for behavior change and sustainable development, etc.

The status of implementation of priority research themes and the 2021-2023 action plan for research activities were also presented by Lt/Col. Amara OUATTARA, Ecological Monitoring Officer at the DZNE.

The exchanges also focused on the Agroforestry Project as part of the Project for Governance and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources of Comoé and Taï areas in Côte d'Ivoire (Pro2GRN) of GIZ and on the PAP-Bio Comoé project of the NGO Nitidae.

In addition, this session was the place for the Park Department to officially award the prizes for the 2nd edition of the competition for the best waterfront village for the conservation and sustainable management of the natural resources of the terroirs of its Peripheral Zone. The villages concerned are Kokpingué, Dedi, Kongolo, Banvayo. These awards were received by the Presidents of the Village Conservation and Development Associations (AVCD) of these villages. The Park Management recalled that it is waiting in the coming days for projects that will be financed at the level of the various prices for a total amount of 7.5 million FCFA.

In view of the progress presented, the representative of the Director General of the OIPR, Lt/Colonel OUATTARA Kassoum encouraged the team of the North-East Zone Directorate to continue its efforts to manage the sustainable management of Comoé National Park, and especially thanked the members of the CGL for their constant support for the conservation of our natural heritage.

Finally, the President of the CGL, Mr. KPAN Droh Joseph, Prefect of the Bounkani Region, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the session, and reminded members to continue to support the OIPR for the conservation of the PNC.