Land disputes gnaw at Côte d'Ivoire's forests

Many people in Cote d'Ivoire have been forced to switch to firewood from more expensive gas in order to cook their food. But this is adding to the deforestation problem. Image source: IRIN

The breakdown of law during Côte d'Ivoire's conflict years, from 2002 to 2007, and more recently the 2010-2011 post-election violence, also contributed to forest degradation by allowing indiscriminate illegal logging and forest occupation.

The waves of conflict forced hundreds of thousands from their homes, which, in western Côte d'Ivoire, the country's most agriculturally rich region, exacerbated land disputes. Land left behind by fleeing families was often occupied, rented or illegally sold by others; to avoid land conflicts, some returnees settled in protected forests.

Read the full article on www.irinnews.org.