Benin - Overview

Remark:

Please note that this country profile has been prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of information provided in the NBSAP and national reports, but has not been reviewed by the Party concerned.

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Benin estimates its number of vascular plant species at 3000 which are spread out into several vegetation zones: the semi-deciduous forests, the dense, dry forests and the clear forests, the savannahs, the meadow altimontaine, vegetation of the humid regions and littoral zones, and the mangroves. The water system includes some 3048km of waterways and more than 333km2 of lakes and lagoons localized at the south of the country... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

Benin has classified several protected areas into various categories that, in total, comprise about 12% of national land, mostly in the northern part of the country. In the southern part of the country, there are a few small, isolated islands of dense, semi-deciduous forest that have been protected by law. There are four main types of classified protected areas: 1) 2 National Parks situated in the departments of Atacora and Borgou, 2) 3 game reserves adjoining the National Parks, 3) 38 forests, and 4) the Biosphere Reserve, which constitutes the National park of Pendjari and game reserves... More »

Percentage of Forest Cover

Recent figures show that forest and wooded areas occupy 6,186,000ha; protected areas (national parks and game reserves) occupy 2,664,000ha; and, in regard to the agricultural sector, teak plantations occupy 20,000ha while coconut plantations and palm groves occupy 400,000ha of land.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The main strategic points of the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan are: reinforcement of the framework of intervening authorities in the management of biological diversity; the promotion of research; the promotion of values and pertinent indigenous knowledge; development of cooperation at the national, regional, as well as international level and the evaluation of genetic resources... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

Benin has two general national targets, which are: to have 20% of the ecosystems of particular interest and 25% of the fragile (at risk) ecosystems protected within the next five years. National targets for specific programs of work include: that 45% of agriculturalists adopt sustainable development techniques for natural resources within five years and 40% of producers apply appropriate methods within five years, that 75% of producers adopt a system of integrated production, that 5% of pisciculture areas are controlled and managed within the next 5 years and 5% of inland waterways are cleared of the water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes), that reforested areas increase 15% per year, 40% of degraded flora is restored within the next 10 years, and that the number of forest species whose yield is studied within the next 5 years increases by 25%... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

In 1996, the National Center for the Management of Wildlife Reserves (CENAGREF) was created, and whose mission is the conservation and management of protected areas. In December 2004, the government of Benin decided to initiate the creation of more wildlife reserves in the southern part of the country. As well, CENAGREF is carrying out several studies with the objective of creating protected areas in the large natural zones, specifically in the humid zones of South-Benin and along the seacoast... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

Studies on the practices of indigenous communities were carried out and the capacities of local communities were reinforced in the use the traditional knowledge evaluation tools (Approche Participative Niveau Village; APNV). Several seminars and literacy workshops were organized for local communities to valorize their knowledge, practices and ideas... More »

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

S.E. M. Blaise Ahanhanzo-Glèlè	ABS Competent National Authorities
M. Gaston Séhounkpindo Akouehou	CBD Primary NFP, CHM NFP, SBSTTA NFP
M. Hugues Akpona	CBD Secondary NFP, ICNP ABS NFP
M. Ferdinand Claude Kidjo	Protected Areas NFP
Akpovi Emmanuel Akouegninou	GTI NFP, GSPC NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Mr. Comlan Marcel KAKPO

Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP, BCH NFP