The Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition, Mr. Abou Bamba, announced on Monday, May 4, 2026, the creation of five marine protected areas during his visit to the premises of the Ivorian Office of Parks and Reserves (OIPR) in Cocody.

This initiative is part of the next phase of the Framework Program for the Management of Protected Areas (PCGAP 2025–2039), which aims to strengthen and enhance Côte d’Ivoire’s natural heritage. It foresees the creation of five (5) marine protected areas, namely:

• the cross-border Côte d’Ivoire – Liberia site (Cavally);

• the Dassioko classified forest (Gboklè);

• Azagny National Park;

• the cross-border Côte d’Ivoire – Ghana site; and

• the Ehotilés Islands site, which has newly been added to the list.

Minister Abou Bamba reaffirmed the government’s ambition to transform these areas into high-value tourist hubs capable of contributing to national economic development and improving the living conditions of local communities. He also reiterated his commitment to mobilizing the necessary resources for the implementation of the new PCGAP strategy.

“The stated ambition is clear. It is for the Ministry in charge of the Environment to turn Côte d’Ivoire’s protected areas into sites of high tourism value, capable of significantly contributing to the country’s development and improving the living conditions of surrounding populations. I am committed to defending this new Framework Program before the Government and technical and financial partners in order to mobilize the necessary resources for its implementation,” he said.

Addressing the challenges related to the management of these areas, the Minister lamented the persistence of illegal activities and uncontrolled occupations in certain existing protected areas, despite repeated government calls.

“Measures will be strengthened to enable protected areas to fully play their role for the benefit of future generations. To this end, an update of penal provisions is underway, with stricter sanctions to ensure better conservation of our protected areas,” he stressed.

Created by decree in 2002, the Ivorian Office of Parks and Reserves (OIPR) is responsible for preserving and enhancing a representative sample of national biodiversity while ensuring the sustainable maintenance of ecological processes. It currently manages 19 protected areas covering a total surface of 2,520,725 hectares, or about 7% of the national territory. Three sites have recently received the “Green List” label from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a distinction that places Côte d’Ivoire among exemplary countries in sustainable protected area management.

According to the Director General of OIPR, Chief Conservator Tondossama Adama, these protected areas represent all of the country’s ecosystems, including forest, savannah, mountain, and aquatic environments. They constitute a natural heritage of inestimable value for present and future generations.

In terms of human resources, OIPR has about 600 agents deployed across six zonal directorates. These teams ensure daily operational management of the network through six main functions: surveillance and protection, infrastructure and equipment, ecological monitoring and research, tourism development, community outreach, and team management.

On the sidelines of the visit, Minister Abou Bamba officially handed over 17 motorcycles to OIPR teams. This equipment aims to strengthen field operational capacity, particularly in monitoring and combating illegal activities within protected areas.