Italian energy company Eni has formed a partnership with Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Water and Forests to protect and rehabilitate 155,000 hectares of forested land across 14 forests. The initiative responds to the critical loss of nearly 90% of the country’s forest cover during the past century and will span an initial 20-year period.
The project combines conservation of existing forest areas with extensive restoration work, including planting 12 million indigenous trees across 130,000 hectares. It incorporates agro-forestry practices designed to benefit local farming communities while advancing environmental goals. The agreement emerged following a 2022 feasibility study that identified suitable project areas in the Lagunes and Comoé regions through consultation with local authorities and stakeholders.
This collaboration supports Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plans while furthering Eni’s decarbonisation objectives for its Baleine development, where the company aims to achieve net-zero upstream emissions. By addressing both environmental restoration and community development, the initiative demonstrates how corporate sustainability strategies can align with national environmental priorities.
