Togo: Nearly 39 million trees planted in five years – a green initiative to be scaled up by 2030
In Togo, the national ambition to plant one billion trees by 2030 is making progress, but the road remains long. This Monday, June 1, 2026, on the occasion of the launch of the 2026 edition of National Tree Month, the Ministry of Environment, Forest Resources, Coastal Protection, and Climate Change presented a significant assessment.
Between 2021 and 2025, nearly 39 million seedlings were planted, covering a total area of more than 49,000 hectares across the country.
This impressive figure, however, represents less than 4% of the target set by the authorities for 2030.
This observation underscores the scale of the challenge that remains, but it does not diminish the government’s determination in any way.
Despite this gap, the ongoing momentum continues resolutely. For the year 2026, the goal is to add 16.8 million more seedlings across 11,250 hectares.
A sustained pace that will need to accelerate further to hope to meet the ten-year objective.
The choice of plant species follows a refined ecological logic, adapted to the specificities of each zone.
On the coast, casuarinas and coconut palms are prioritized to effectively combat coastal erosion, a scourge that threatens riverside communities every year.
In the Plateaux region, teak and African mahogany are intended to support the regeneration of forest areas, essential for the local economy.
In the central and northern regions, neem, acacia, shea, and baobab are mobilized to enrich the savannas and slow the advance of desertification.
“Reforestation is not only an ecological action; it is an act of collective responsibility,” said Minister Dodzi Kokoroko.
According to him, every tree planted contributes to the preservation of soils, water resources, and the climate, while constituting a lasting legacy for future generations.
Now extended to the entire month of June, this initiative is part of the continuation of National Tree Day, celebrated every June 1st since 1977.
The campaign aims to intensify national reforestation efforts by encouraging citizens, institutions, and organizations to actively participate in operations, well beyond a single commemorative day.
A call for collective mobilization to transform the green ambition into tangible reality.
Chantal TAWELESSI
