Banco is the epicenter of ambitious efforts to protect a rich pocket of biodiversity. Across its 600 hectares of primary forests, park residents include nearly 100 rare or endangered species, seven of which are only known in Cote d’Ivoire. The park holds significant spiritual, recreational, scientific, and educational value. It also supplies around 40 percent of the city’s drinking water needs.

Yet Banco is also under pressure from a growing urban population, air pollution and underdeveloped infrastructure.

On a recent visit to Cote d’Ivoire, the Global Environment Facility’s CEO and Chairperson Carlos Manuel Rodriguez learned about efforts to conserve endangered species and allow ecosystems to thrive in the park, while also creating new employment opportunities for people living nearby.