Liberian Farmers Clear Forests for Cocoa, Undermining EU Deforestation Efforts

Liberian farmers are clearing forests to establish cocoa plantations and trafficking the beans into neighboring Ivory Coast, undermining European efforts to curb deforestation, according to research by a conservation group. The influx of Ivorian cocoa farmers into Liberia in search of land for cocoa production is putting Liberian forests at risk, with the country losing around 150,000 hectares of natural forest.

The cocoa grown in Liberia is then illegally trafficked back into Ivory Coast and mixed with Ivorian supplies, making it difficult to trace the origins of the cocoa. This trend is accelerating and risks fueling a repeat of the widespread cocoa-driven deforestation that has nearly wiped out Ivorian forest cover.

The European Union has approved a law, set to come into effect at the end of 2023, that aims to prevent agricultural products linked to deforestation from entering the European market. However, the study by the Ivorian forest conservation group IDEF reveals that the current traceability mechanisms used by companies sourcing cocoa from Ivory Coast are flawed and promoting the destruction of forests in Liberia.

Why this matters: The ongoing deforestation driven by cocoa production in West Africa threatens biodiversity, contributes to climate change, and undermines global efforts to promote sustainable agriculture. The EU's forthcoming law to prevent deforestation-linked products from entering its market faces significant challenges in implementation and enforcement.

The conservation group argues that these traceability mechanisms should be replaced by a robust and transparent national traceability system being developed in Ivory Coast, which would map all production plots and register producers. The report calls on the EU to implement strong controls as part of the due diligence required by the new regulation to help curb this issue and prevent Liberian-grown cocoa from entering the European market.

Key Takeaways

• Liberian farmers clear forests to establish cocoa plantations, smuggling beans to Ivory Coast.
• Cocoa from Liberia is illegally trafficked into Ivory Coast, making it hard to trace origins.
• EU law aims to prevent deforestation-linked products, but current traceability mechanisms are flawed.
• Deforestation for cocoa threatens biodiversity, climate, and sustainable agriculture efforts.
• EU must implement strong controls to curb Liberian-grown cocoa from entering European market.