In Cameroon, sustainable cocoa farming helps protect both livelihoods and wildlife
2 min read
Cameroon Indigenous Cocoa Farmers Balance Forest Protection & Prosperity
In Cameroon’s rainforests, Indigenous Baka communities are redefining cocoa farming—proving that sustainability can benefit both people and the planet.
Living in Harmony with the Forest
In Cameroon’s cocoa-rich regions, Indigenous Baka communities are showing the world how farming and conservation can go hand in hand. Locals not only depend on the forest for cocoa farming—Cameroon’s key export—but also for food, medicine, and cultural survival.
“We live with the forest and the forest lives with us,” says René Etoua Meto’o, a 26-year-old farmer. “When we take care of the forest, it also provides for us and helps our cocoa farms thrive.”
Booming Cocoa Prices and Growing Pressure
Between 2023 and 2024, cocoa prices surged from $3 to nearly $8 per kilogram. While this global demand is a financial opportunity for Cameroon, where cocoa makes up around 12% of exports, it also risks encouraging deforestation in biodiverse rainforests.
The rising pressure to clear land threatens both wildlife habitats and the Indigenous communities who act as guardians of the Congo Basin.
The Congo Basin Landscapes Initiative: A Sustainable Solution
Supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility, the Congo Basin Landscapes Initiative empowers farmers with tools and training to boost cocoa yields without deforestation.
This approach promotes both economic resilience and environmental conservation, aligning local farming practices with global sustainability goals.
Guardians of the Congo Basin
“Indigenous people are the guardians of these forests,” says Tessa Claude Ndala Mayouya, a UNEP communications officer. The initiative emphasizes that people need nature to thrive, and that protecting biodiversity doesn’t require compromising productivity.
The program also highlights how forests don’t recognize political borders, making regional cooperation essential.
From the Forest to Your Chocolate Bar
Cocoa from this initiative is now used in Rainforest Alliance certified products globally. These chocolates bear the recognizable green frog logo, symbolizing eco-friendly farming and fair trade.
“When you buy a bar of chocolate with the green frog, you are helping communities produce sustainably while protecting biodiversity,” explains Nadège Nzoyem, Senior Director for West and Central Africa at the Rainforest Alliance.
Check also
French president admits to France’s repressive war during Cameroon independence struggle
A Sweet Future for Cocoa and Conservation
With cocoa prices soaring, Cameroon is poised for agricultural growth. But through initiatives like this, the country hopes to balance economic ambitions with forest protection, ensuring a future where both people and the planet thrive.
About The Author
