Ouémé Superieur Classified Forest

Latest activity in this protected area

brunoportier commented on the Site

about 1 year ago

"Measures have been taken to protect Classified Forests in Benin, but application is patchy, management plans are not properly applied, large parts of these forests are burnt by local population for farming or invaded by cattle herders, and often only small central parts remain under natural forest. Wari Maro and Ouémé Supérieur forests have for instance been considerably reduced despite the fact that international co-operation projects for its protection had been initiated. Nowadays, dozens of farmers and poachers on motorbikes come in and out of the reserve all day long; some carrying guns and others chain-saws or axes. The sound of chain-saws is continuous. Large lorries come out full of logs and forest guards appear to be very selective in what they do, most of the “poachers” having the support of Forestry, those arrested being only those who have not obtained (paid for) their permits from officials. Poaching of wood and animals in the reserve could be controlled with political willpower, but this is obviously lacking for the moment and the current level of poaching is extremely worrying."