The city of Cotonou, Benin, is set to host the inaugural Green Day event, a two-day initiative aimed at promoting sustainable development and a new approach to landscape development. Scheduled for November 13-14, 2026, at the Palais des Congrès, the event is organized by the National Landscape Agency (Anap) and will bring together public and private stakeholders, professionals, academics, local authorities, and citizens.
The Green Day event seeks to go beyond the traditional concept of landscape, which is often limited to urban beautification. Instead, it aims to highlight the role of landscape in territorial planning, natural resource management, improving living standards, climate resilience, and creating new economic opportunities. The event is under the patronage of the Ministry of Living Environment and Transport, responsible for Sustainable Development.
At the heart of the initiative is the Village Vert, which will be one of the main attractions of the event. Spanning nearly 10,000 square meters on the esplanade of the Palais des Congrès, this space will bring together nurserymen, florists, companies, plant professionals, and eco-responsible solution providers. It will also take the form of an open-air vegetable market, allowing visitors to discover and acquire different varieties of plants and flowers directly from exhibitors.
The event will also focus on youth and knowledge transmission. Educational institutions, engineering schools, and training structures will present their initiatives and innovations, while contributing to the discovery of careers and skills related to landscape and environmental sectors. The Green Day event is designed as a family and citizen-friendly event, with activities such as gardening workshops, painting, educational animations, storytelling, and meetings with professionals.
In the evenings, the Sunset Village and Green Social will prolong the experience in an atmosphere that combines vegetation, music, artistic creation, and conviviality. Beyond the festivities, Anap aims to make this first edition the starting point for a sustainable national dynamic, particularly through the mobilization of local authorities and the opening of a future Landscape Charter.
The event is expected to contribute to Benin's environmental education and awareness efforts. It comes at a time when the country is emphasizing the importance of sustainable development, environmental conservation, and climate resilience. The Green Day event will provide a platform for stakeholders to share knowledge, innovations, and best practices in landscape development and environmental management.
Anap's initiative is built around the credo "We do not just plant. We design a system." This approach seeks to integrate landscape development into a comprehensive and sustainable framework, incorporating design, implementation, maintenance, financing, and sustainable management of developed spaces. The event's outcomes are expected to have a lasting impact on Benin's environmental and economic development.
Key points
- The Green Day event aims to promote a new approach to landscape development in Benin.
- The event will bring together various stakeholders to discuss sustainable development and environmental conservation.
- The initiative seeks to make landscape development a lever for sustainable development in Benin.
