The Santchou reserve was created on 27 July, 1947. More than 40% of the Reserve has been destroyed. Deforestation is at an advanced stage as a result of plantation agriculture (particularly cocoa and coffee) and farms for food crops, timber exploitation and the exploitation of non timber forest products.

The project plans to regenerate the buffer zone of the reserve by getting the local people to nurse tree seedlings and plant them in the seriously degraded areas. The local people will learn participatory forest management during the project. The Project will provide the needs of the local people (fuelwood, medicinal plants and forest non timber products) and thus reduce the pressure on the forest reserve.