UNESCO/Toson-Khulstai Biosphere Reserve
Comoé
General information
The Comoé Biosphere Reserve is located in the north-east of the Côte d'Ivoire between the Comoé and the Volta River. It comprises an interfluvial peneplain and a series of ridges and granite inselbergs rising up to 600 m.
Detailed information
Key data
Year of nomination
1983
Country
Côte d'Ivoire
Total population
10020
Area
Surface
1,155,330.00 ha
Total terresterial area
1,155,330.00 ha
Location
Latitiude: 9.08 - Longitude: -3.75
Contact
Ecosystem-based network
AfriMAB
Ecological Characteristics
The area represents a transitional habitat from the savanna to the rain forest, normally found only further south. Open forests and savanna (with Panicum spp. and Ctenium spp.) characteristic of the Sudano-Guinean zone, occupy about 90% of the area while gallery forests (dominated by Cynometra vogelii) and dense dry forests cover about 10%. Among the endangered species in the area are the roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) and the plant Datura spp. which is used for artificial coloring and sold for 600$ per kg on the international market (1995).
Socio-Economics Characteristics
About 210 people live in the core area of the biosphere reserve (1998). However, many ethnic groups live contiguous to the biosphere reserve. They are mostly reliant upon agricultural and hunting activities. Poaching of elephant, pangolin and waterbuck for subsistence and commercial use is a major management problem. The Comoé Biosphere Reserve has a great potential for ecotourism which could become a main source of income. The Comoé BR participates in the UNESCO-MAB/UNEP-GEF regional project on ‘Building Scientific and Technical Capacity for Effective Management and Sustainable Use of Dryland biodiversity in West African Biosphere Reserves’.
