Nature in Togo

A protected area is a formally managed area where ecosystems, species or natural resources receive specific protection and use rules. Togo’s main landscapes include the Guinean forest-savanna, Sudanian savanna, mountain and gallery forests, dry and wet forests, mangroves, lagoons, lakes, the Oti, Mono and Zio rivers, and the Atlantic coast. Koutammakou is a living cultural landscape in which forests, fields, springs and sacred rocks remain closely connected to local life. Togo’s protected-area network includes Fazao-Malfakassa, Oti-Kéran and Fosse aux Lions national parks, as well as reserves such as Togodo, Abdoulaye and Oti-Mandouri. Four Ramsar sites cover about 1,210,400 hectares: Bassin versant Oti-Mandouri covers 425,000 hectares, Parc national de la Keran 163,400 hectares, Réserve de faune de Togodo 31,000 hectares and Zones Humides du Littoral du Togo 591,000 hectares. Ramsar sites are wetlands recognized for international importance; the designation supports protection and wise use but does not automatically provide free public park access. The Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources, the forestry administration, local authorities, communities and ONAP, the national protected-areas office created in 2023, share responsibilities. ONAP coordinates protected-area management and community participation, with technical supervision from the environmental ministry and financial supervision from the ministry responsible for the economy. The environmental management agency ANGE, universities, NGOs and community organizations contribute to monitoring, restoration and environmental education. A five-year GIPAP programme launched in 2024 targets at least 7,000 households around Fazao-Malfakassa, Abdoulaye and Togodo-Mono through participatory management, reforestation, restoration, agroecology, surveillance and alternative livelihoods. Nature provides land and resources for agriculture, livestock, fishing, fuelwood, charcoal, non-timber forest products, medicinal plants, hunting, beekeeping, nature observation, trekking, safaris and birdwatching. Local dependence is high. Land conversion, deforestation, vegetation fires, overgrazing, poaching, illegal timber use, water and soil pollution, the invasive water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes and coastal erosion reduce ecosystem quality. Conflicts can arise over protected-area boundaries, settlement, farmland and pasture expansion, wood and charcoal extraction, hunting, fishing, infrastructure, port and urban expansion, and encounters between people and wildlife. Dialogue, participatory governance, restoration, alternative income and monitoring form the main local response pathways. Older national biodiversity inventories recorded 4,019 animal species and 4,002 plant species. Current numbers can differ by site and survey date. Species of conservation concern include the African elephant, pygmy hippopotamus, West African manatee, chimpanzee, Kloto torrent frog, Adélé toad and sea turtles. The bongo has disappeared from Togo, so older species records do not prove a current local population. Site-specific checks are needed for present abundance and distribution. The 2008 Forest Code distinguishes fully protected, partly protected and non-protected fauna. Protected-area management plans are required. Visitors may not hunt, capture animals, damage plants, light bushfires or pollute. Entry, camping and passage in reserves generally require permission under the applicable site rules. Hunting requires a permit; local non-commercial hunting with traditional weapons may be allowed for non-protected species within recognized customary use rights. Commercial or experimental capture requires a permit, and guides or trackers need the required licence or card. Ministerial rules determine seasons, weapons and permit types. Transporting animals or trophies requires the relevant certificates, including health documentation. Violations can lead to fines of FCFA 30,000 to 300,000 and, depending on the offence, one to 12 months of imprisonment. Togo has no single nationwide booking and fee system for all protected areas. A 2025 tourism reference for Fazao-Malfakassa cited an entrance fee of about EUR 5 to 10, but the current amount, opening arrangements, guide requirement and advance authorization should be confirmed locally with the responsible site or ONAP. The dry season is generally more suitable for savanna observation, while conditions vary by ecosystem. Floods, drought, heat, erosion, coastal pressure, rising sea levels and vegetation fires also affect natural areas; drought is especially relevant in Kara and Savanes, while flood risk occurs across the country, including the coast.