Hanoi: The groundbreaking ceremony for the development of the classified forest within Ouagadougou's urban park officially launched this Tuesday. This first phase, funded with approximately 5 billion CFA francs, is part of a larger project estimated at several tens of billions of CFA francs.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the project is supported by the highest Burkinabe authorities and aims to provide the capital with a modern, landscaped space. This space will combine ecosystem preservation, leisure, and environmental education, with the goal of establishing it as an international benchmark.

The overall master plan includes 18 sub-projects, several of which have been selected for this first phase, scheduled to last four months. This initial phase includes the reconstruction of two entrance gates with enhanced security devices, the complete refurbishment of the park's fence over approximately 10 kilometers, accompanied by a video surveillance system, as well as the construction of an ultramodern 750-seat multipurpose hall near the town hall.

The development of the menagerie is also a priority for this phase, with plans to house around twenty animals, including elephants, lions, hippos, crocodiles, monkeys, and various bird species, in improved captivity conditions. A pond of approximately 13.4 hectares will also be redesigned to provide a more suitable environment for the wildlife.

The Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, recalled the guidelines given by the Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traor, on December 10, 2023, calling on all stakeholders to make a sustained commitment to the completion of the project on time and with the required quality. He emphasized the need for vigilance in this wetland area, calling for the prevention of any form of pollution during the execution of the works.

The monitoring and control office was urged to fully play its role in raising the alarm, while the municipality's support was requested to ensure the smooth running of the project.