Cadre juridique de l’agroforesterie et du reboisement dans le domaine rural ivoirien : risques et opportunités

The report examines the legal landscape for (agro)forestry in Côte d’Ivoire, highlighting that while the state aims for 20% forest cover by 2030, land tenure insecurity remains a primary risk. It details the distinctions between land titles, land certificates, and customary rights, noting that only Ivorian individuals, the State, and public authorities can hold land titles. The analysis emphasizes that investors should prioritize contracts with land certificate holders to avoid the legal uncertainty associated with customary rights, which can lead to eviction. It also explores the potential for investors to own planted trees and benefit from carbon credits through specific agreements, though it notes that carbon regulations are still being finalized.

• Côte d’Ivoire has set a national target to restore its forest cover to at least 20% of the national territory by 2030, supported by the REDD+ strategy, the National Policy on Forest Preservation, Rehabilitation and Expansion (PPREF), and the Forest Code (Act No. 2019-675).
• Land ownership in the rural domain via land titles is restricted to the State, public authorities, and Ivorian individuals; foreigners and legal entities (including Ivorian ones) are generally prohibited from owning land unless acquired before 23 December 1998.
• Investors can access rural land through lease agreements provided the lessor holds at least a land certificate. However, as of 14 October 2019, land without a land certificate cannot be sold or leased because leasing conditions are awaiting a decree.
• Ownership of planted trees is flexible and can be determined by agreement between the landowner and the investor. In the absence of an agreement, ownership typically reverts to the land title holder, though the investor may be entitled to compensation under the Civil Code if the landowner was aware of the project.
• Investing in land subject only to customary rights carries high risk because there is no legal certainty regarding tree ownership, and investors can be evicted at any time.
• Investors may benefit from environmental services, such as carbon sequestration, by acting as usufructuaries through bipartite or tripartite agreements, provided these comply with evolving regulations.
• Under a draft decree, the State owns the legal title for emission reductions from REDD+ investments in public domains, classified forests, or international programmes where the State participates on its own behalf, unless the State expressly stipulates otherwise.

APA

ClientEarth (2021). Cadre juridique de l’agroforesterie et du reboisement dans le domaine rural ivoirien : risques et opportunités. https://www.clientearth.org/media/rdqctm2f/legal-framework-for-agroforestry-in-cdi_en.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Cadre juridique de l’agroforesterie et du reboisement dans le domaine rural ivoirien : risques et opportunités. 2021. https://www.clientearth.org/media/rdqctm2f/legal-framework-for-agroforestry-in-cdi_en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=ClientEarth |title=Cadre juridique de l’agroforesterie et du reboisement dans le domaine rural ivoirien : risques et opportunités |date=April 2021 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/rdqctm2f/legal-framework-for-agroforestry-in-cdi_en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{clientearth2021cadre, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Cadre juridique de l’agroforesterie et du reboisement dans le domaine rural ivoirien : risques et opportunités}}, institution = {ClientEarth}, year = {2021}, month = apr, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/rdqctm2f/legal-framework-for-agroforestry-in-cdi_en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }