Political unrest: and its socioeconomic environmental impacts

The legal concept of protected areas was introduced in French West Africa by the decree of March 10, 1925, which established wildlife reserves; the Governor-General's order of April 16, 1926, created 15 national parks. In Togo, land legislation is based on the decree of February 5, 1938, governing the organization of the territory's forestry regime. These protected areas were to remain, as far as possible, free from human contact; entry and hunting were to be prohibited. This state-led management of protected areas led to its violent challenge during the sociopolitical events of 1990-1993, which revealed the state's limitations regarding the protection and management of biological resources. These limitations manifested in land claims over areas subject to protected status classifications and the state's deliberate resettlement of certain populations within specific protected areas. Faced with this dual and inconsistent policy regarding protected areas in Togo, the state finds itself in a dilemma. The eastern part of the Fazao-Malfakassa National Park was selected as the setting for this study.

Pagina's: 124, Paperback, Our Knowledge Publishing