Publications

Environment 20 July 2023

AgouaLand, the largest wildlife park in West Africa

Located in Abomey-Calavi in Benin, this educational and entertainment zoo was inaugurated in 2021 and now boasts 150 endemic and non-endemic species. The AgouaLand zoological research centre has laboratories available for students and researchers and welcomes groups from Benin's schools and universities every weekend. These educational outings enable students and their parents to learn and recharge their batteries in a setting where they can appreciate and discover the country's flora and fauna for the first time.

Environment 13 July 2023

Eco-friendly packaging in Goma – Miten Power Sarl

Miten Power Sarl, founded in October 2018 by Congolese entrepreneur Frank Kika, has a biodegradable packaging and bag production plant based in Goma. With a daily production capacity of between 6 and 8 tonnes, it can meet the environmental and social challenges of the North Kivu region by helping to reduce unemployment and boost economic development in the DRC.

Economy 15 June 2023

Agriculture: soil-less farming, a solution for the future?

Soil-less agriculture, or hydroponics, involves growing food plants on agricultural, agro-industrial and even landfill waste substrates. It is mainly developed in greenhouses or closed, controlled environments. This type of agriculture responds to the constraints of land scarcity and soil erosion, can be adapted to all essential crops and helps to combat deforestation. In Grand-Bassam in Côte d'Ivoire, a group of enthusiasts have taken up the subject of soil-less planting and adapted it to the production of Big Sun, the famous "good-smelling pepper ".

Environment 7 June 2023

Beekeeping, a godsend for the Congo basin rainforest

Beekeeping is a practice involving the domestication and rearing of bees to produce products such as honey, wax, royal jelly and propolis, which have a wide range of benefits and uses. The presence of bees in a natural environment contributes to its pollination and indicates the quality of the environment. The forests of the Congo Basin are under threat from over-exploitation. Beekeeping has emerged in the region to preserve this natural heritage as an economically and environmentally effective alternative. While cohabitation with farmers is not always easy, beekeepers try to convince local residents to give this industry, which helps preserve the forest, a chance.

Environment 19 May 2023

Gabon: towards a greener economy?

In Libreville, Gabon, there is a multi-sector industrial park called the GSEZ - Gabon Special Economic Zone of Nkok, which covers 1,126 hectares and was ranked as the world's best special economic zone in the timber sector in 2020. The GSEZ helps to tackle deforestation and defend the forests that cover more than 85% of its territory by participating in the creation of green value chains to contribute to the country's development. This economic zone brings together 144 companies from 16 countries operating in 70 industrial sectors, including a wood processing cluster with 84 companies.

Environment 12 May 2023

Vincent Kunda, President of the Kongo River Association

The Congo River, this gigantic African ecosystem, is threatened by industrial and domestic pollution, an obstacle to its tourist and economic development. Vincent Kunda, president of the Kongo River association, is fighting against impotence and indifference towards this treasure of humanity's heritage. Since 2011, he has set the goal of protecting and enhancing the largest river in Africa, shared by 450 ethnic groups. This artist has developed a holistic approach to the challenges of the river through an annual festival, which is both a scientific meeting and a festive event. This year's edition will take place in June in Muanda, west of the DRC.

Environment 14 April 2023

Joyce Gachugi, Petco Group Director in Kenya

PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate, a derivative of oil and natural gas used worldwide to make non-biodegradable plastic bottles. PET plastic can be recycled several times. Joyce Gachugi's mission is to fight the unreasonable use of plastic in bottles and its direct consequence - the proliferation of environmentally harmful waste in Kenya. She is an inspiration to the African continent. In this interview, Joyce Gachugi explains the workings of this community of producers and collectors committed to the fight against waste and pollution, as well as the challenges and hopes of the recycling chain in Kenya and Africa.

Environment 12 April 2023

Solar energy: a new training priority in Nigeria

In Nigeria, there are two recurring problems: unemployment and electricity shortages. Adebola Anofi, a young Nigerian renewable energy entrepreneur, has decided to tackle this problem by founding a programme to train young Nigerians in the technical skills of solar panel installation. The White Consult programme could facilitate the entry of these young people into the labour market and provide new hands for installing and maintaining solar panels on the roofs of companies and individuals.

Environment 17 March 2023

Menno Holterman – a great advocate for water resources

Menno Holterman was one of the founders of the annual International Water Week in Amsterdam and is the chairman of the Nijhuis Saur Industries During this interview that took place recently in Dubai, he talked about water scarcity, the distribution of water resources in the world, the Saur activities in Africa, the lack of infrastructure for water treatment, the link between water and energy transition and, nonetheless, food security.