Togo Holds First National Week of Protected Areas

Public Management

Wednesday, 27 November 2024 15:43

Togo Holds First National Week of Protected Areas

(Togo First) - Togo holds its first National Week of Protected Areas (SNAP). Started on November 26, the event ends on November 28. Held in Afito, in the Yoto Prefecture, 70 km northeast of Lomé, the capital, the SNAP aims to underscore the significance of protected areas and the vital role that local communities play in their sustainable management.

Themed “Local Communities at the Heart of the Sustainable Management of Protected Areas in Togo,” the event focuses on raising awareness among the Togolese populace regarding environmental issues, especially regarding how these natural spaces contribute to Togo’s socioeconomic development.

Participants are covering key topics related to protected areas, such as the current state of floristic and faunal diversity in these regions, their ecological, social, and economic importance, and the impact of community and communal forestry on conserving forest resources.

Togo currently boasts 83 protected areas, established between 1938 and 1958. These areas span 793,300 hectares or about 14% of the national territory. According to the Ministry of Environment, many of these areas currently face significant challenges, including increased human encroachment and pressure.

The ongoing event complements various recent actions taken by Togolese authorities to tackle these challenges. Such initiatives include the launch of the Gestion intégrée des Périphéries des Aires Protégées du Togo (GIPAP) project. Funded by the European Union with a budget of CFA19 billion, the GIPAP aims to preserve and enhance natural landscapes, particularly those within the Fazao-Malfakassa and Abdoulaye complexes.

The GIDAP, a five-year program, seeks to align conservation efforts with local community needs while promoting innovative approaches to sustainable development.

Esaïe Edoh

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.