Togo launches ambitious green rebirth with missahohé forest restoration plan
In a powerful statement of ecological sovereignty, Togo is redefining its relationship with nature through the strategic redevelopment of its forests. The newly validated 2025–2035 management plan for the Missahohé classified Forest in Kloto prefecture represents a profound political choice in favor of rooted, sustainable, and forward-looking development.
Since its classification in 1953, Missahohé had suffered from neglect, uncontrolled exploitation, and growing demographic pressure.
Now, backed by the FAO’s Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) and a Local Management Committee, the Togolese government is leading a decisive campaign to regenerate this vital natural heritage the ecological lung of the Kpalimé region.
Beyond restoration, the plan signals a paradigm shift. It is structured around three pillars: active conservation, inclusive green economy, and community governance.
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This is not merely about planting trees it is about planting hope, building a resilient rural economy, and establishing ecological and food sovereignty based on local knowledge and resources.
Investing 1.5 billion CFA francs over ten years in Missahohé means investing in climate security, biodiversity, and community dignity.
Through agroforestry, non-timber forest products, and ecotourism, Togo is demonstrating that reconciliation between humans and nature and between development and conservation is achievable.
At a time when the Sahel and West Africa are facing severe global climate disruptions, this plan also serves as a tangible contribution to the fight against climate change.
Missahohé has become a symbol of ecological resilience and a model of green governance with continental relevance.
Kodjovi Makafui
