Sustainable community management of Lake Buyo within Taï National Park

The Taï National Park (PNT, 536,017 ha), a protected area of ​​global importance and a Biosphere Reserve, is located in the southwest of Côte d’Ivoire and is home to emblematic species such as the forest elephant (Loxodonta africana cyclotis, VU), Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis, EN), Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes, EN). In 1980, the artificial lake was created for the construction of a hydroelectric dam of Buyo which engulfed 8,400 ha of its area at the northern limit. Since then, the lake and its ichthyological resources have assumed major economic importance for the area.

But these resources are threatened by bad fishing practices, in particular fishing in spawning areas, thus limiting the renewal of the stock or the unsuitable techniques (with non-regulatory nets) used by fishermen to catch fish and even juveniles, supposed to ensure the regeneration of the resource. This strong pressure on the resource is also explained by the low economic diversification of the players.

The objective of this project is to strengthen the ecological integrity of Lake Buyo within the Taï National Park through concerted and efficient management of resources and diversification of the livelihoods of the surrounding fishing communities. This project will focus on 5 fishing camps north of the PNT.