Reforestation and Climate Mitigation in Côte d’Ivoire: A Cost Benefit Analysis of the Bouaflé Protected Forest

Abstract

Forests play a key role in the environmental balance and act as a livelihood provider for people especially for the surrounding population. Côte d'Ivoire located in West Africa, has a high level of biodiversity, mainly on forested land. Like other countries of this region, Côte d’Ivoire has suffered severe deforestation since the 60s. However, deforestation and forest degradation release Greenhouse Gases into the atmosphere which contributes to Climate Change. In order to reduce deforestation, many actions are taken globally and locally. One of which is the implementation of forest protected areas inside countries. However protected areas implementation imposes some restriction on access to forest resources to local population. As local population supplement their daily livelihood with forest-based products, it is necessary to evaluate the impact of these forest protected areas on social welfare. The methodology applied was Cost Benefit Analysis. In order to valuate the total benefits, we used the contingent valuation method for local population direct benefits estimation. Next, the raw material production was an estimate provided in SODEFOR plans. Then, the indirect benefits were computed using estimates of tropical forests-related benefits per hectare provided in the literature as a proxy. The indirect benefits encompassing climate regulation; disturbance regulation and water regulation; erosion control and sediment retention; soil formation; nutrient cycling; waste treatment; genetic resources were 2,579 million; 57.83 million ; 69.39 million; 2,833 million; 115.66 million; 10,664 million; 1,006 million; 474.21 million respectively (all in CFA FRANCS and per year). The carbone sequestration was estimated to 56,425 million CFA FRANCS/ha/year based on an annual estimate per hectare for the Ivorian forests in the literature. Water supply computed based on an annual estimate of the groundwater replenishment, is 461,800 CFA FRANCS billion/year. The contingent valuation study was about willingness to pay of local population. A questionnaire was addressed to 159 households inside and around the Bouaflé protected forest. First, we analysed the perception of local population of the importance of the Bouaflé protected forest to them. Then we measured their mean and median WTP. Then the costs of the conservation were measured by investment, operationnal and opportunity cost approaches. At the local level, the costs are largely higher than the benefits. When taking into account the indirect forest services, this result is highly positive. We computed the net present value of the conservation based on two different approaches. With the social disount rates suggested by Stern (1.4% ), the net present value is 4 342 086 118 CFA Francs while with the social discount rate of Nordhaus (5.5%), the net present value is 3 672 909 531 CFA Francs. Among other recommendations, we encourage population participation and appropriation of the conservation policies through sensitization, training and assistance for an efficient forest conservation and climate change mitigation.