SUMMARY Togo's
accession to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992 in
Rio and its ratification in October 1995 offers a new framework for the conservation and management of the country's biological
resources.
This provision allowed Togo to prepare, on the one hand, a national monograph document
and, on the other hand, a strategy document for the conservation and sustainable use of
biological diversity, as recommended by the Convention to all contracting parties.
The objective of the strategy and the action plan for the conservation of biological diversity thus developed is to guarantee to present future generations the rational and sustainable management of
resources in order to improve the living conditions of citizens
State of biological
diversity Biodiversity is the living environment that surrounds us: terrestrial ecosystems (forests, savannas, etc.), aquatic ecosystems (rivers, lakes, ponds, sea), biodiversity is the living environment that surrounds us: terrestrial ecosystems (forests,
savannas, etc.), aquatic ecosystems (rivers, lakes, ponds, sea),
flora and fauna.
Ecosystems Togolese
ecosystems, which are very diverse, include both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, which are unfortunately in perpetual deterioration
as a result of numerous anthropogenic pressures.

Terrestrial ecosystems consist of semi-deciduous forests, dry forests and open forests, Guinean
savannas, Sudanian savannas, gallery and riparian forests.
Aquatic ecosystems consist of river, lake, marine ecosystems and a particular
ecosystem (mangroves).
Fluvial ecosystems include river basins including the Volta basin, the Mono basin, the Zio-Haho
basin. The flora consists of algae and water lilies and the fauna is
rich in various species of fish and crustaceans.
Lake ecosystems include lakes, lagoons, artificial or natural pools,
temporary or permanent. The flora consists of algae (poorly known), water lilies, but
also invasive plants such as lettuce, water hyacinth and lentils.
Wildlife is dominated by fish.
Marine ecosystems consist mainly of sand, with two rocky areas.
Underwater flora is very poorly known, with the exception of algae, of which some
beach-rock populations have been the subject of summary inventories for educational purposes. The marine fauna is
rich. Migratory species are also encountered, including mammals (Whales, Dolphins,
etc.), reptiles (turtles) and birds.
Mangroves are considered to be specific ecosystems in Togo. They are halophilic edaphic
formations, typically tropical and exclusively coastal, whose
main characteristic is their floristic composition dominated by mangroves. They now
cover less than 1000 ha with two mangrove species: Rhizophora racemosa
and Avicennia germinans, with which Drepanocarpus lunatus, Pterocarpus santalinoides and Acrostichum aureum are associated.
These ecosystems are rich in various
fish species.
viiviii Species
diversity Ecosystem
diversity has encouraged a great variety of flora and fauna.
Flora
The Togolese flora has 3491 terrestrial species and 261 aquatic species representing all the systematic
groups currently recorded on the national territory. Viruses have 56
species, Bacteria 55, Cyanophyceae 6, Cyanophyceae 6, Algae 295, Fungi 190, 133
bryophytes, 114 Pteridophytes, 13 Gymnosperms, 13 Gymnosperms, 13 Gymnosperms including only one spontaneous. Angiosperms
have 2990 spontaneous and cultivated species whose main families represented are
Poaceae, Fabaceae, Cyperaceae, Rubiaceae and Euphorbiaceae. A single
plant species, Phyllanthus rouxii (Euphorbiaceae) growing on the ferruginous hills north of Bassar is reported as endemic.
Several species are threatened with extinction or are
endangered or vulnerable.
However, the Togolese flora is poorly known since several phyla have not been studied.
These are Lichens, Higher Fungi, Cyanophyceae,
Algae etc. Wildlife

The inventory of Togolese fauna has made it possible to identify 3476 species including 2312 terrestrial species, 1146 aquatic species and 18 domestic
terrestrial species (Mammals, Birds); It is also
reported that some wild species (3 Reptiles, 3 species of Fish, 4 species of Molluscs) are also occasionally domesticated.

This fauna consists of Protozoa (57 species), Cnidarians (17 species), Cnidarians (17 species), Platyhelminths (24 species), Nematodes (11 species), Annelids (13 species), Crustaceans (145 species), Insects
(145 species), Insects (1493 species), Insects (1493 species), Insects (1493 species), Myriapods (43 species), Myriapods (43 species), Molluscs (177 species), Echinoderms
(23 species), Amphibians (39 species), Amphibians (39 species), Amphibians (39 species), Amphibians (39 species), Amphibians (39 species), Amphibians (39 species), Amphibians (39 species), AmReptiles (156
species), Fish (342 species), Birds (708 species), Mammals (228 species).

Four endemic species are reported among the Togolese fauna: among the invertebrates,
a mollusc, the giant snail (Achatina togoensis) in the Adélé massif; among the
vertebrates, 3 Amphibians: Conraua derooi in the semi-deciduous forests of Kloto (
Plateaux Region), Aubria subsubgillata in Kovié (Maritime Region), Bufo togoensis in the Adélé Massif (Central Region).

Four species of migratory sea turtles frequent the Togolese coast either to lay eggs
(Chelonia mydas, Lepidochelys olivacea, Dermochelys coriacea) or for food (Erethmochelys imbricata) or for food (Erethmochelys imbricata).

Dolphins and whales are also present in Togolese marine waters and breed there
.
In some pools, crocodiles, hippopotamuses, manatees, protected species are recorded.
The causes of biodiversity loss
Four main causes underlie the loss of biological diversity in Togo. These
are: anthropogenic causes, legal causes, institutional causes,
scientific causes.
Anthropogenic causes
The main anthropogenic causes are population growth,
traditional agricultural practices, traditional agricultural practices, bush fires, overexploitation of biological resources, poaching,
habitat destruction etc. From these anthropogenic causes,
natural causes such as climate change, river siltation, etc. Legal and regulatory causes At the level of

legal, the causes of the loss of biological diversity are: the sometimes
inappropriateness, inconsistency, inadequacy and lack or poor application of texts,
laws and regulations relating to the management of natural resources.
Institutional causes
Very few qualified agents work in the field of Togolese biological diversity. It is also
unfortunate to note a lack of coordination and synergy between the technical services that
exist in the various sectors and whose responsibilities are poorly defined.
Scientific causes
There are shortcomings in the knowledge of the elements of Togolese biological diversity,
but also a lack of studies on the impact of development projects likely
to affect biodiversity.
Measures for the management and conservation of biological diversity
Apart from traditional methods of managing biological diversity (practice of agroforestry, creation of
sacred forests, village forests, protection of venerated animals, conservation of agricultural products, etc.) management and
conservation are carried out
within a legal and institutional framework concerning natural resources in general.
The legal framework
The measures in force are mainly orders, decrees and national laws or international
conventions.
National texts
There are general texts, including the Constitution of 14 October 1992, which establishes the
right of everyone to a healthy environment and requires the State to ensure the
protection of the environment and natural resources. Law No. 88-14 of November 03,
1988 on the Environmental Code, unfortunately not applied due to the lack of implementing texts
.
Sectoral texts on the management of flora and fauna, hunting and fishing.
ix x Togolese
forest legislation is based on the decree of 5 February 1938 on the organization of the forest
regime in Togolese territory. It is following this text that protected areas have been created
since colonial periods. In 1990, there were 83 protected areas. Today,
most are partially or completely invaded by local populations.
International conventions
Togo has signed or ratified several conventions, treaties and agreements relating to the protection of
the environment. In 1992, he signed the United Nations Conventions on Combating
Desertification, Climate Change and Biological Diversity.
The institutional framework
In addition to the various ministries involved in the field, environmental management
is mainly under the responsibility of the Minister of Environment and Forest Resources. These public
services are complemented by local authorities.
In addition, several NGOs are involved in the environment in Togo.
Coordination and consultation frameworks have been established for better
environmental management. Apart from the National Environmental Action Plan (PNAE), the others
are non-functional. These are:
• the Interministerial Commission on the Environment (CIE);
• the National Environment Commission (CNE);
• the Committees for the Protection and Management of the Environment;
• the Local Planning Committees.