Country Risk Profiles

Thank you for your interest in this Timber Legality Risk Assessment

We are currently revising and updating this risk assessment, so it has been removed from the Sourcing Hub. We have removed it while we update it, because we have been made aware there can be important changes to the risk conclusions.

A few main points to note is that version 1.0 of the risk assessment dates back from 2017 and a new forest Code has been adopted in 2019 along with implementing legislation. Additionally, the current version does not provide detailed information on “forêts classées”, which is an important source type in the Ivory Coast and has a specific legal framework.

If you would like to discuss the Timber Legality Risk Assessment for Côte d’Ivoire, or you have questions about legality risks for Côte d’Ivoire, please contact us: sourcinghub@preferredbynature.org.

You can stay up to date with the Côte d’Ivoire risk assessment, and all other Preferred by Nature Sourcing Hub updates by subscribing to the newsletter here.

Overview of the forest sector

About 33% of Côte d'Ivoire is covered by forest (FAO, 2015).

The state holds management control over all forest lands and resources of the country. Logging takes place either in:

• permanent forest areas (state production forests). The Forest Development Corporation (SODEFOR is the French acronym) holds management and harvesting rights. Private companies can conduct forest management operations on State land through partnership agreements with SODEFOR and rural forests are granted to forest companies or loggers, or
• rural forest areas (PEF in French).

19% of the forest areas are state production forests and 78% of the forested areas are rural forest areas (PEF).

Most forests in Côte d'Ivoire are severely degraded or are at an early stage of secondary growth, except for some effectively protected areas (Timbertradeportal.com, 2016). The forest products industry is export-oriented, and this, coupled with poor forest governance, has encouraged the emergence of a clandestine sector of artisanal loggers to supply the local market. 

The forest sector in Côte d'Ivoire is the subject of a new Forest Act (2014), which introduces major reforms to the sector including the granting of ownership of trees to landowners, the creation of the concept of community forests, etc. However, in the absence of decrees to implement the new Act, the former law still regulates forestry practice. 

Several legality risks are present in Côte d'Ivoire timber supply chains. The risks are wide-ranging and appear across all categories of law. If you are sourcing timber from Côte d'Ivoire you should take care to ensure the extensive risks identified are not present in your supply chains, or have been sufficiently mitigated. VIEW LESS