The Mabi-Yaya Nature Reserve (RNMY) was born from the fusion of two forests formerly classified under the responsibility of SODEFOR. These are the former Mabi Classified Forest with an area of 59,614 ha and the former Yaya Classified Forest with an area of 23,873 ha.

These two classified forests were merged following the actions, since 2016, of the General Council of Mé, NGOs in particular Nitidae as part of the Mé REDD+ Project and a large majority of the local population, aiming to protect them from the strong pressures exerted by loggers, poachers and cocoa farmers.

In 2019, the government decided by Decree No. 2019-897 of 30 October 2019 to create the Mabi-Yaya Nature Reserve with an area of 61,282,559 ha (rather 83,487 ha or explain the reason for the decrease in area).

The Mabi-Yaya Nature Reserve is located between 05°36' and 05°48'05" North latitude and 3° 25' and 3° 40' West longitude. It is crossed in its northwestern part by the Mabi river and extends along the Comoé river in its eastern part to the Kossan river in the southwest.

Administratively, the RNMY is located in the Mé Region and straddles the departments of Alépé (through the sub-prefectures of Aboisso-Comoé, Alépé, Alosso and Danguira) and Yakassé Attobrou through the sub-prefecture of Biéby. It is limited in its north-east ridge by the sub-prefecture of Bettié.