With the support of India, the Fazao-Malfakassa national park is about to be recognized by the UNESCO as a “biosphere reserve”

Culture

Monday, 17 December 2018 17:52

With the support of India, the Fazao-Malfakassa national park is about to be recognized by the UNESCO as a “biosphere reserve”

(Togo First) - Recognized as a national park in 1975 and recommended, along seven other sites in Togo, to be listed on the UNESCO’s world’s cultural heritage in 2001, the Fazao-Malfakassa national park is about to be recognized as a biosphere reserve.

This title is given by the UNESCO to protected areas that contribute to reduction of biodiversity loss, improve local populations’ livelihood as well as easing social, economic and cultural conditions to make environments more sustainable.

According to the UN institution, the park’s efforts to improve livelihood, in a manner that respects biodiversity, and become a reference in terms of sustainable development were strengthened with a $1 million facility provided by the UN-India Fund in the framework of a development partnership.

Entitled : “Biodiversity actions in the Fazao-Malfakassa national park : a way to reduce poverty, preserve biodiversity and achieve sustainable development, this project which was submitted by the government and approved by the Fund, will be implemented by the UNESCO and Togo’s ministry of environment,” says Yao Ydo, regional director UNESCO. It will among others “foster small bee keeping activities, carbon sequestration in the biomass, protection of water basins, as well as bio-prospecting or ecotourism in Togo,” he added.

Spanning more than 192,000 ha, the Fazao-Malfakassa national park is located in Togo’s central region. It hosts beautiful gallery forests, fertile plains, large mammals, birds, reptiles and primates. It is towered by an eponymous chain of mountains.

The seven other sites on the tentative list submitted to the UNESCO in 2001 are: Lomé’s governor’s palace, Woold Home (Slavery site in Agbodrafo), the Kéran national park, the Oti and Alédjo fauna reserves, the Aného-Glidji agglomeration, the Nok and Mamproug cave dwellings and the traditional homes of the Batammariba in Tamberma.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.