Supporting Forests in the Ivory Coast

In late August and early September 2025, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) Technical Support team carried out two complementary missions in Ivory Coast. Together, these activities are helping local and national actors move forward on ambitious forest restoration efforts by providing the technical evidence base, building institutional skills, and preparing bankable project proposals that can attract climate finance.

High-resolution mapping in Man
At the request of the Municipality of Man, GCoM experts and partners deployed drones to collect detailed data on three priority mountain slope sites around the city. Over five days, the team worked closely with municipal authorities and the local offices of the Ministry of Water and Forests to capture images and videos covering more than 1,100 hectares. The mapping makes it possible to distinguish and quantify different land uses, such as rock outcrops, existing forest, areas with high restoration potential, perennial and food crops, as well as residential and commercial buildings. This information is essential for finalizing a reforestation and slope stabilization project that will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment's national project portfolio. Despite interruptions caused by heavy cloud cover and rain, the mission achieved all its objectives. The resulting digital products, an orthomosaic, a digital surface model, and detailed land-use maps, will provide a solid technical basis for advancing the project, which aims to improve ecological stability, reduce erosion risks, and enhance community resilience.

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Strengthening SODEFOR's institutional capacity
Just days later, GCoM organized a three-day capacity-building workshop in Abidjan for the Société de Développement des Forêts (SODEFOR), the state company responsible for managing Ivory Coast's protected forests. The seventeen participants included directors from SODEFOR's headquarters and regional offices, supported by their technical advisors. The workshop focused on designing reforestation and forest restoration projects, identifying opportunities in climate and carbon finance, and assessing the carbon sequestration potential of forestry initiatives. Sessions combined technical theory with practical exercises, enabling participants to apply concepts directly to real-world cases. Particular emphasis was placed on the need to involve local authorities and communities in project design, ensuring both climate mitigation and adaptation goals are addressed while building local ownership. Participants highlighted the usefulness of the training for their daily responsibilities and requested further sessions on drafting project concept notes, preparing budgets, and developing carbon assessment methodologies. The high levels of engagement confirmed the value of in-person capacity building for complex technical and financial topics.

Toward finance-ready forestry projects
Together, the missions in Man and Abidjan demonstrate GCoM's role in bridging technical evidence and institutional capacity. Drone-based mapping provides the data needed to identify restoration opportunities with precision, while targeted training equips forestry managers with the tools to design projects that can access climate and carbon finance. By combining these approaches, Ivory Coast is strengthening its ability to bring forward well-prepared, finance-ready projects that can attract national and international support. These efforts contribute to the country's climate and biodiversity goals while also delivering tangible benefits for local communities, from erosion control and watershed protection to new economic opportunities linked to sustainable forest management.