Cover An aerial view of the Tanoé River meeting Ehy Lagoon in the Tanoé-Ehy forest (Photo: Rolex)
An aerial view of the Tanoé River meeting Ehy Lagoon in the Tanoé-Ehy forest (Photo: Rolex)
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Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Inza Koné has dedicated his life to protecting those that cannot protect themselves: wildlife and rainforests. With the help of Rolex, the primatologist will be able to increase and improve his important efforts
The human affection for animals is a strong, sometimes unexplainable one. It is the reason why many of us keep pets like dogs or cats; we enjoy caring for these animals and foster an inimitable bond with them. When it comes to wild animals, however, it has been proven time and again that they are better off in their natural habitats. Primatologist Inza Koné has had to learn this the hard way.
When he was just eight years old, his father gave him a young baboon as a pet. They became inseparable, but as the baboon grew, it became difficult to handle and the deep integration with human life made it impossible to release the primate back into the wild. There was no other choice but to make the painful decision of euthanising his beloved companion, which heavily impacted Koné. “Imagine how sad I was. Since then, I think about wild animals differently. Especially primates,” he reflects.
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Above Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Inza Koné in the Tanoé-Ehy forest located in the south-eastern Côte d’Ivoire (Photo: Rolex)
Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Inza Koné in the Tanoé-Ehy forest located in the south-eastern Côte d’Ivoire (Photo: Rolex)
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While unfortunate, this formative experience also resulted in an incredibly positive effect; it sowed the seeds for Koné’s lifelong dedication to primate conservation. He is the first primatologist from Côte d’Ivoire, and has been devoting the last two decades to studying and protecting its wildlife.
Although the country is renowned for its rich biodiversity, Côte d’Ivoire faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat destruction. In an effort to mitigate this, Koné’s mission has centered on protecting the Tanoé-Ehy swampy forest, one of the last primary forests in the West African region. Primary forests are crucial for the health of a country’s wildlife and need to be protected as they are naturally regenerating forests composed of native species, where the ecological processes are not significantly disturbed by human activity. The 11,000-hectare Tanoé-Ehy forest is also home to many threatened species, including four of the most endangered primates in the region: the Roloway monkey, White-naped Mangabey, White-thighed Colobus, and Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus.
Koné’s journey has seen several successes so far. In 2006, Koné helped establish a conservation program involving the 11 communities surrounding Tanoé-Ehy, fostering a community-driven approach to conservation. However, in 2008, a greater threat loomed: a proposal to drain 8,000 hectares of the forest for a palm oil plantation. Koné, alongside local chiefs and leaders, launched a campaign to protect their ancestral land. It was a monumental victory, preserving the forest’s rich biodiversity.
Above The White-thighed Colobus is one of the world’s 25 most endangered primate species. It is endemic to West Africa—the Tanoé-Ehy forest is one of the last remaining places it can be found in (Photo: Rolex)
The White-thighed Colobus is one of the world’s 25 most endangered primate species. It is endemic to West Africa—the Tanoé-Ehy forest is one of the last remaining places it can be found in (Photo: Rolex)
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Thanks to Koné’s work, in December 2021, the Ivorian government declared Tanoé-Ehy a community-managed natural reserve, legally empowering the local villages to steward the land. This achievement marked a significant milestone, but Koné did not stop there. He continues to leverage his scientific expertise to support the communities, collecting ecological data and organising awareness-raising events.
One of the innovative projects Koné is spearheading involves a four-year plan to plant and monitor trees on three hectares of farmland per village annually. This initiative aims to create a natural tree fence, separating farmlands from the forest and establishing botanical gardens for educational purposes. By improving agricultural systems and preserving local flora, Koné is building a sustainable future for both the environment and the communities.
With the immediate threat to Tanoé-Ehy currently mitigated, Koné’s focus now lies in documenting its unique wildlife. Using camera traps and DNA sampling from river and swamp water, he is working to prove the presence of critically endangered primates, including Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus, last seen in the 1970s. Confirming their existence would bolster the case for ongoing conservation efforts in the region.
Above An aerial view of the Tanoé River meeting Ehy Lagoon in the Tanoé-Ehy forest (Photo: Rolex)
An aerial view of the Tanoé River meeting Ehy Lagoon in the Tanoé-Ehy forest (Photo: Rolex)
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Having made such important contributions to conservation, Koné has been recognised by Rolex as one of its 2023 Laureates for the Rolex Awards for Enterprise. This prestigious biennial award recognises pioneers with new or ongoing visionary projects that can benefit humanity and the planet. It is a programme under Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative, which supports individuals and organisations committed to environmental conservation worldwide.
The Rolex Awards for Enterprise will support Koné’s efforts to expand the Tanoé-Ehy project and raise global awareness about the forest’s critical biodiversity. The award will fund community organisation, ecological monitoring, environmental education, and the development of alternative livelihoods. Additionally, Koné plans to establish a transboundary conservation area, linking forests across the Tanoé River in Ghana.
“Winning the Rolex Award brings me immense pride because it’s an incredibly competitive prize. I have a deep respect for all those who have won the Award before me, it gives me a sense of responsibility,” said Koné. “It has already helped us gauge our ability to convince people of what we produce and our impact on the field. Becoming part of the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative has shown that our conservation programmes have real potential and will help us step up our efforts.”
Annabel Tan is the Editor of Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Singapore, where she covers all things luxury timepieces and fine jewellery across both print and digital platforms. She is also the Editor of Tatler GMT Singapore, a role that deepens her fascination with the ever-evolving world of watchmaking. Outside of work, she’s usually on the hunt for her next favourite watch that she can’t afford, planning her next beach getaway, or catching up on the latest Formula 1 race.
