FADECI - Deforestation/degradation factors in Cote d'Ivoire - Qualitative analysis under the ONU-REDD program

R1. On deforestation in terms of direct factors, the analysis confirms the very important weight of the agriculture expansion (mainly cocoa farming) in the process of deforestation of the last 25 years. This phenomenon being quoted at 62 % by surveyed persons and this proportion varies between 22% for the Eastern Area and 71% for the South East Area. Next come the exploitation of wood energy (29%), the spread of bush fires (23%) and mining (3%).
R2. On deforestation in terms of indirect factors, it is the categories of economic factors (36%) and political/institutional factors (35%) that are put forward by the persons surveyed. Then, comes the following category : demographic data (24%). In all categories, the first three factors cited are: Economic attractiveness of activities leading to deforestation (25%), Population growth, included migration (12.5%) and War / Political crisis (12%).
R3. On degradation in terms of direct factors, the analysis confirms the very important weight of timber exploitation, fairly distributed between sawing and industrial exploitation. This category is quoted at 46% by the persons surveyed and this proportion varies between 21% for the North Area and 71% for the South East Area. Then come the following categories : logging (cited at 29%), bush fire spread (23%) and mining (3%).
R4. On degradation in terms of indirect factors, it is important to note that the considerable weight of the category of political and institutional factors (53%), far ahead of economic (24%) or demographic factors (18%), even if the very first factor expressed in all categories is population growth, including migration (17%). The 2nd and 3rd most cited factors are: poor (or lack of) enforcement of laws and regulations (15%) and the crisis of the 2000s (14%).