Bobo-Dioulasso: One year after planting 2,000 seedlings during the 6th edition of National Tree Day (JNA), the Bobo-Dioulasso grove has a survival rate of 96%. This is a laudable achievement, the result of rigorous monitoring and strong community involvement, according to regional forestry authorities.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the JNA 2024 site in Bobo-Dioulasso, which is fenced and well-maintained, now boasts dense vegetation and thriving plants. This was observed by an AIB team just days before the 2025 edition. Under the theme “Tree, capital of resilience for endogenous development,” the 6th edition of the JNA was held in Bobo-Dioulasso with the planting of 2,000 plants over an area of 5 hectares, as part of the national strategy for restoring plant cover in Burkina Faso.
According to the Regional Director of Water and Forests for Hauts-Bassins, Lieutenant Colonel Hassime Rabo, the site has a record survival rate, well above the national average observed in previous years. “Unlike previous years, the authorities have focused on rigorous monitoring, regular maintenance, and strong involvement of local communities,” he explained. Local management committees, in collaboration with forestry services, forest management cooperatives, and even traditional hunting groups (dozos), ensure the daily upkeep of the grove. “Local species have been prioritized. At the Hauts-Bassins site, we planted ten local species. Of the 2,000 seedlings planted, approximately 90% survived,” said Lieutenant Colonel Rabo.
According to the head of the regional forestry and wildlife service, Colonel Koffi Emmanuel Dabir©, the site, located on a plot of approximately 5 hectares, is managed by the forest management cooperative. The union signed a contract with private agroforestry operators. According to him, 12 people have been authorized to cultivate the interior of the site with low-growing crops and maintain the plantations.
Despite this success, challenges remain. “The main problem remains the lack of water. At the Bobo-Dioulasso site, the borehole often breaks down, and repairs take time. There is also straying animals. The site is fenced, but there are gaps. Bushfires also pose a threat, although we control them thanks to firebreaks,” the regional director emphasized.
In 2022 and 2023, post-JNA survival rates did not exceed 40%. The improvement observed in 2024 is attributed to better coordination between decentralized environmental services, local authorities, and community organizations. “Before the JNA, reforestation had a survival rate of barely 30%. Today, thanks to these days, we have reached more than 70% nationally, and 90% for the Hauts-Bassins site. This is proof that the JNA is a high-impact initiative,” concluded Lieutenant Colonel Hassime Rabo.