Air Quality Assessment in a Protected Natural Area: A Case Study of Banco Forest, Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

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Protected areas play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, the provision of ecosystem services, and the mitigation of climate change impacts. Although theoretically shielded from anthropogenic activities, these areas are often perceived as reservoirs of clean air. However, recent studies have highlighted a growing level of atmospheric pollution even within these zones. This study aims to assess the air quality within Banco Forest, a national park located in an urban area of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to determine whether it still fulfills its function as an ecological buffer zone. The research was conducted between February and April 2021, using two air quality monitoring stations: one located near the Northern Highway, specifically at the Ivorian Office of Parks and Reserves (OIPR), and the other within Banco Forest, at the Forestry School of the park. Measurements indicated that the daily mean concentrations of fine particulates matter (PM2.5 and PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Banco forest are comparable to those recorded near the heavily trafficked road, and often exceed both national air quality standards and the guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Nevertheless, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Banco forest remains generally acceptable and is better than that observed in the traffic area between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. These findings highlight the vulnerability of urban protected areas like Banco forest to air pollution and underscore the need for enhanced environmental monitoring and the integration of such spaces into public air quality management policies.