The Lazarus effect: plant one tree and contribute to re-greening Bouaké

In Ivory Coast’s second city, Bouaké, urban tree cover is declining and climate change is drying up water resources, reducing food security and fueling heavy floods. Trees help fight climate change and reduce the effect of erosion. And so, planting a tree is saving more than just a source of water for the local population in Bouaké.

Climate change has increased floods, leading to erosion that damages infrastructure and water resources in Bouaké (Photo: Jude Fuhnwi/Bouaké)

Local government authorities in Bouaké with funding from the European Union (EU) and technical assistance from the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA), are developing practical and sustainable solutions to climate change.

The EU funded project “Bouaké, Green City – Decentralized Cooperation,” also known by its French acronym BOVIVE-CD, aims to contribute to the fight against climate change by making Bouaké a Green City.

BOVIVE-CD project staff explain how planting trees in Bouaké is helping to fight climate change in the city (Photo: Jude Fuhnwi/Bouaké)

“We are taking practical action together with communities, religious and traditional leaders, and the regional department of environment. We are planting trees and encouraging the practice in and around communities,” said Thierry Nicaise Dognondo, officer in charge of sensitization for the project. “It is part of our bigger sustainable climate action plan,” he added.

Trees help stop climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the air and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.

“The objective is to contribute to fight climate change, but also to position Bouaké as a key and active player of a network of mutual exchanges of cities at sub-regional level and on decentralized cooperation,” explained Pierre Komenan, Coordinator of BOVIVE – CD.