For a few years, the Ivory Coast has engaged in the progressive development of a legal and institutional framework to better manage its national parks. This policy development culminated in the adoption of Law No. 2002-102 of February 11, 2002 on the creation, management, and financing of national parks and natural reserves. The Law and Decree No. 2002-359 of 24 July 2002 also created the Ivoirean Office Parks and Reserves (known by its French acronym, OIPR).
Article 32 of the Law allows the OIPR to grant ecotourism concessions within national parks and reserves to either natural or legal persons. A concession may be for part or all of the park or reserve, and the concession must be consistent with the character of the park or reserve. The Minister in charge of parks and reserves has the responsibility to approve concession agreements between the OIPR and the concessionaire.
The concessionaire must adhere to the policy objectives relating to ecotourism development within the park. These policy objectives are set forth in Articles 2 and 3 of the Law on national parks and natural reserves. The concession agreement defines the particular conditions and the procedures for establishing, operating, and managing the ecotourist activities, works, installations, and equipment in the particular national park.
For more information, contact the OIPR Director Aïdara Gouesse oipr@aviso.ci; oipraidara@yahoo.fr; tel.: +225-22406116/22406110; fax: +225-22406119