





Preserving Benin's sacred forests

The project
ClimateBiodiversity
The Gapadou project aims to sustainably manage sacred forests threatened by agricultural expansion in Benin, using restoration, the development of sustainable economic alternatives and awareness-raising among communities, especially children.
2 940
forests have the status of sacred forests in Benin
1 739
direct project beneficiaries in 2023
70 000
hectareshectares of the country's forest cover lost each year
Solution
The Gapadou project focuses on preserving and restoring Benin's sacred forests, pillars of local culture but threatened by agricultural expansion. Sacred forests, based on traditional beliefs, are crucial for the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity. Benin has around 2,900 of them.
In collaboration with BEV ONG, Planète Urgence mobilizes local communities to restore these unique forests, protect their biodiversity and develop sustainable economic alternatives via agroforestry. The project includes an environmental awareness program to ensure the sustainability of the actions.
This holistic approach aims to conciliate preservation of cultural heritage, protection of biodiversity and local economic development. Gapadou thus illustrates how forest conservation can harmonize with community needs, creating a sustainable human, climatic and ecological impact.
News
The money will be used for
The donations collected will enable:
- The purchase, planting and maintenance of seedlings to restore the sacred forests.
- The creation of woody belts around these forests.
- The development of sustainable economic alternatives with local communities, notably by planting fruit species in agroforestry, which can be marketed to generate additional income.

Thanks to you 👏
23,189
38%m2 of sacred forest restored



75 comments
Action zones
Africa
Today, it's vital to act jointly to respect people and their environment.

Nicolas Froissard
President, Planète Urgence
Certified association
Planète Urgence is an association certified by Dift, here are the criteria we evaluate:
Financial management
Innovation & efficiency
Entrepreneurial spirit, agility & ambition
Governance & values
Transparency, monitoring & impact measurement
Systemic impact
Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur dift.com/causes
Sustainable development goals




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