• Environment Minister Komla Dodzi Kokoroko launched a nationwide update of Togo’s forest database one week after taking office.
• The initiative seeks to verify forest statistics and improve transparency in the management of natural resources.
• Togo aims to plant one billion trees by 2030 as part of its reforestation and climate strategy.

Togo has launched a national update of its forest data to improve resource management, guide public policies, and track progress toward its climate goals, the Environment Ministry said.

The new Environment, Forest Resources, Coastal Protection and Climate Change Minister, Professor Komla Dodzi Kokoroko, initiated the project less than a week after his appointment. The update aims to establish reliable and transparent forest data to support sustainable planning and environmental financing.

In a statement dated Oct. 16, 2025, and cited by Togo First, the minister directed all holders of cutting permits, import authorizations, or transport licenses for forest products to submit certified copies of their documents to regional and prefectural environment offices within eight working days.

The ministry said the measure will enhance the accuracy of national forest statistics and improve oversight of the timber industry, which remains both an economic asset and an ecological challenge for the country.

Since 2020, Togo has pursued an ambitious reforestation policy aimed at expanding its national forest cover. The government targets the planting of one billion trees by 2030, a key component of its environmental and climate resilience strategy.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi 

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum