ESIA in road infrastructure projects in Côte d'Ivoire

The practice of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Côte d'Ivoire as in Africa, is still in its infancy even if more and more national legislations are integrating the principle of such studies, the main means by which prevention in the field of environment can be realized. The awareness of environmental problems dates back to the Earth Summit held in RIO de JANEIRO in 1992, which allowed the establishment of Agenda 21. The implementation of the latter and the clear will of African governments to be in phase not only with the International Community as regards environmental concerns, but also to respect the commitments made to the latter, have seen the birth of a set of laws in the direction of environmental protection. With an institutional and legal arsenal provided, the EIA has truly entered its practical phase with the obligation to precede any work, however small, with an Environmental Impact Assessment. The problems identified must enable the public authorities to put in place appropriate strategies