Over the past century, Côte d’Ivoire’s forest cover has shrunk from some 16 million hectares to less than three million hectares, with only about 500 000 hectares of primary forest remaining. Deforestation has been mainly driven by conversion of forest to agriculture, some of which has been illegal. Most industrial production of timber is destined for the export market. The EU is a major market for Ivorian wood processing exports, accounting for almost 38% of all wood exports from the country in 2018. 

As part of a broad effort to improve governance in the country, Côte d’Ivoire has taken a series of steps to improve governance of its forest sector. In addition to reforms in forest law, in 2013, Côte d'Ivoire entered the process of negotiating a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union. Since that time, three formal negotiation sessions have taken place, in addition to regular technical missions and exchanges, and substantial advances at the national level. 

Two of Côte d'Ivoire's neighbours, Ghana and Liberia, are implementing VPAs.