A national campaign to raise awareness among forestry sector stakeholders on compliance with the forest code was launched on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Tsévié. The initiative is led by the Interprofessional Council for the Regulation and Promotion of Forest Species (CIRPEF). It aims to combat deforestation and strengthen governance in the forestry sector.
Organized with the support of the Ministry of Environment, the campaign is intended to serve as a platform for mobilization and exchange among actors in the wood industry, including forest operators, loggers, drivers and carpenters. The objective is to strengthen oversight of activities related to wood extraction and processing, while reaffirming existing legal obligations.
To this end, the provisions of the Togolese forest code were presented to participants. Particular emphasis was placed on the obligation to comply with regulatory texts and to bring required permits and accreditations into compliance for any activity related to wood. Discussions also covered best practices to be adopted in forestry-related professions.
Stakeholders were also urged to recognize the importance of reforestation and their role in preserving forest resources, as the country faces growing pressure on its forest cover.
In response, authorities are relying on large-scale reforestation campaigns, supported by a program aimed at planting one billion trees by 2030. The initiative seeks to sustainably restore forest cover and strengthen the country’s environmental resilience.
According to CIRPEF president Jean Kokou Adéti, the campaign forms part of efforts to strengthen the sector’s regulatory framework, including measures by the Ministry of Environment to better organize the wood industry.
Since the appointment of Minister Dodzi Kokoroko to head the Environment Ministry, several initiatives have been undertaken to regularize the forestry sector and strengthen environmental protection in Togo.
Esaïe Edoh