The degraded land in the municipality Vo3 in the prefecture of Vo in the south-east of Lomé, due to the exploitation of phosphate in the area, is being restored, thanks to the Coastal Zones Resilience Investment Project in West Africa (WACA ResIP). The project's support for this restoration was the subject of a broadcast by Radio du Littoral on May 31, 2024 on the theme “contribution of the WACA project to the restoration of quarries: case of the municipality Vo 3”.

Since 2022, the sub-project reforestation of old quarries in municipalities bordering the phosphate mining site has begun and is continuing.

From 50 hectares reforested in the commune Vo3 in 2022 to 150 in 2023, this municipality intends to extend its areas to 165 hectares in 2024. On the ground the first results are satisfactory.

“These results are the result of WACA, which funded us in full. We want to talk about earthworks with large machines, the supply of plants and the care of maintenance and follow-up. These last activities constitute real green jobs for our young people,” explained the mayor of Vo3, Minongblon Kodjo.

“Our example starts with being popular with our colleagues who also started out. We are very happy to have submitted this reforestation project to WACA. We soon intend to do beekeeping, fish farming and heliciculture as an income-generating activity (AGR) and take full advantage of the microclimate that will set in.

Reported by Dr. Eric AGBESSI