Togolese authorities are stepping up efforts to protect the environment.
Specialized mobile brigades dedicated to environmental and forest monitoring will be deployed to combat illegal activities and better protect natural resources amid growing pressure on ecosystems.
The creation of the units was formalized by an order issued by the Minister of Environment, Forest Resources, Coastal Protection and Climate Change, Dodzi Kokoroko, according to local media citing a ministry statement.
The brigades will be tasked with regularly monitoring forests, bodies of water and other areas considered environmentally sensitive. They will also be able to intervene at sites where illegal activities have been reported or are suspected.
The units will consist of sworn water and forestry officers, selected notably on the basis of their skills and integrity. They will operate under the national coordination of the head of the water and forestry corps.
Authorized to operate both day and night within their respective jurisdictions, the brigades will work in coordination with security forces, local authorities and decentralized technical services.
The initiative comes as Togo continues to strengthen its legal framework for environmental protection. Last August, the National Assembly adopted legislation governing the creation and management of protected areas, aimed in particular at preserving biodiversity, water resources and soils.