21 percent of the world’s cocoa is produced in Ghana, which has lost half of its forest cover since 2000. Fewer trees decreases shade and means that less greenhouse gas is removed from the atmosphere. Kenneth has followed in his grandmother’s footsteps to become a cocoa farmer, but he’s doing it differently. By using trees to shade cocoa trees, farmers are not only increasing their yields but working sustainably and reducing deforestation.
Kumasi, Ghana
In Ghana, cocoa is king. The cocoa sector provides livelihoods for around 800,000 families in the country, but it also significantly contributes to an alarming deforestation rate. The country loses 2% of its forest cover every year. With a CIF injection of $60 million, the country is working with partners to address the underlying drivers of deforestation, encourage sustainable agriculture practices, and bolster livelihoods. The effort has helped improve tree ownership policies and establish 28,000 hectares of more climate-resilient shade cocoa.