International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research

Authors
Andon N’Guessan Simon, Alla Kouadio Augustin, Koffi Simplice Yao

Abstract
Ivorian protected forests are initially perceived as a territory but a territory containing resources, and it is to one or other of the titles that they are coveted. This gives rise to strong anthropogenic land pressures in a context of urban extension. Thus, part of the listed forest of Mont-Korhogo, peri-urban protected forest was urbanized. How are protected forest lands urbanized? Is this a strategy of re-appropriation of the territory of this forest protected by the indigenous populations? The objective of this research is to understand why a protected forest supposed to be free from all human activities, is partly urbanized. The triangulation of methods (direct observations, collection and processing of primary data, and analysis of secondary information) through surveys, field surveys (geopositioning), shooting, satellite images and documentary research was carried out. The results show that the urbanized portion of the protected forest was parceled out in the absence of state authority during the crisis (2002-2011). It was carried out with the aim of relocating indigenous populations of the village of Sonzoribougou who did not obtain any lots after the subdivision of the said village through the urban extension of the city of Korhogo. In other words, it is the individualization (subdivision: modernization) of community lands (belonging to families and / or communities) that is at the origin of this situation. But with the approval and the viabilisation of this space by the State, is not this another form of reappropriation of this protected territory by the indigenous populations after that of the Cocody district?