Mont Péko National Park

The Mont Péko National Park (MPNP), created by decree on February 9, 1968, is a major protected area within Côte d’Ivoire’s national network of parks and reserves. Located in the Guémon region in the western part of the country, it covers an area of 34,000 hectares and represents one of the last remaining mountainous forest ecosystems in the nation. Its landscape is dominated by Mount Péko, which rises to over 1,000 meters above sea level, and is characterized by a mosaic of habitats including dense humid forests, transitional zones, and granite landscapes.

Ecological Wealth and Biodiversity

Thanks to the diversity of its ecosystems, the MPNP hosts exceptional biodiversity, composed of forest, savanna, and ubiquitous species.
The flora is particularly rich, including a large number of endemic species or species of high conservation interest. This biological importance places the park at the center of national priorities for the preservation of tropical forests.

The fauna includes emblematic species such as the West African chimpanzee, the forest elephant, various species of primates, and numerous mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The park is also recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA), with several hundred avifaunal species recorded.

Pressures and Threats

Between 2002 and 2011, the socio-political crisis led to significant degradation of the park’s forest cover due to loss of institutional control and the progressive establishment of human activities. Despite restoration efforts undertaken since 2016, the MPNP remains subject to two major pressures:

• Illegal agricultural activities, mainly linked to the maintenance of former cocoa plantations or harvesting activities in certain zones (Bagohouo-Nidrou, Boho 1–Gonié, and Diébly).
• Poaching, carried out throughout the park, affecting already vulnerable species.

These pressures compromise the natural regeneration of the forest and the conservation of protected species.

Policy Framework and National Strategies

In response to the rapid degradation of Ivorian forests, the Government has adopted several major strategic frameworks, including the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) promoted by IDH.

These instruments aim to reduce deforestation, restore degraded ecosystems, and increase national forest cover to 20% by 2030. Mont Péko National Park plays a central role in these ambitions as a priority area for forest landscape restoration.

Governance and Partnerships

The Ivorian Office of Parks and Reserves (OIPR) is responsible for the operational management of the MPNP. With support from the Government and technical and financial partners, several structuring projects have been initiated to strengthen governance, ecological monitoring, and habitat restoration.

Among them, the Public–Private Partnership for the protection and rehabilitation of Mont Péko National Park, co-financed by OIPR, IDH, and Barry Callebaut, serves as a strategic lever. This project includes:

• strengthening local and national governance frameworks,
• involving surrounding communities in conservation actions,
• holding regular consultations with stakeholders,
• mobilizing the resources required for sustainable park management.

This mechanism also includes stronger ecological monitoring systems, particularly for the protection of sensitive species such as the forest elephant and the chimpanzee.

Strategic Role of Mont Péko National Park

Beyond its ecological value, Mont Péko National Park plays a key role in:

• combating climate change,
• preserving ecosystem services,
• supporting local economic development through potential future ecotourism,
• advancing scientific research and environmental education