Area:

322 462 km2

Population:

20 617 068 (2009)

Climate:

Four major climatic zones can be distinguished in Ivary Coast: equatorial climate in the southern forest, characterised by four seasons (two rainy seasons and two dry seasons); Sudano-Guinean/tropical climate in the north of the country, with a dry season (June-October) with high temperatures and low humidity and a rainy season (July-September); tropical humid climate (Baouléen) in the center of the country, with a first rainy season (March-June), followed by slow precipitations (July-August), a second rainy season (September-October) and a dry season (November-February);  mountain climate in the west of the country, characterised by two seasons and where the temperature decreases with altitude (down to 8°C in January).

Natural Resources:

Ivory Coast’s hydrographic network includes:

–          4 large river basins: Cavally, Sassandra, Bandama and Comoé;

–          Small coastal streams in the south of the country;

–          The tributaries of the Niger river in the northwest;

–          The available resources of surface water amount to 39 billion m3.

–          There are 87.9 billion m3 of potential groundwater; available groundwater resources amount to 37.7 billion m3.

Ivory Coast has a forest cover of 7,117,000 hectares composed of forests reserves, forest plantations and protected areas. Forests covered 16 million hectares in 1900 and have experienced rapid deterioration in the 70s. The flora has 4700 plant species, including 327 aquatic species.

Agriculture:

Agriculture is the engine of the country’s economy. It is divided between crops (61.7%), cereal and food (33.4%), fruit (2.8%), vegetables (1.7%) and industrial (0.4%).

Ivory Coast is the first world producer of cocoa, the first African coffee producing country, the third African cotton producing country. In 40 years, the agricultural area has almost quadrupled. Cotton is the lifeblood of the economy of the northern region (two-thirds of the territory). Rubber tree is the fourth largest agricultural product of the country and occupies a prominent place in the economy. The palm oil industry also plays an important role.

Climate Vulnerabilities:

The effects of climate change are causing the displacement of regions of high production of perennial crops (coffee and cocoa) to more favorable areas. Temporary production cuts affect food production. Impacts related to climate change are evident on the drying of rivers and streams, soil erosion, reduced rainfall, etc. These effects are also affecting human health and biodiversity.

Source:

http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/cotnc2.pdf