Rainforest Conservation Campaign
The Issue:
- Protecting the tropical tree “shade canopy” and preventing the harvesting of rainforest trees for timber are critical to preserving the environment. One of the unique features of cocoa is that the trees thrive under the protective shade of fruit and timber trees.
- This characteristic can help farmers improve their incomes while helping to protect the rainforest.
- This characteristic can help farmers improve their incomes while helping to protect the rainforest.
- In addition, when farmers grow timber trees, their farms can serve as sources for timber, protecting resources in other areas. However, the practice has been limited due to a lack of means of educating farmers.
Partners:
- Conservation International
- Danish Centre for Forest and Landscaping
- Sustainable Tree Crops Program
How World Cocoa Foundation Programs Help:
- The World Cocoa Foundation supports an ongoing campaign to encourage farmers to plant and harvest timber and fruit trees.
- The program includes efforts aimed at educating farmers about the benefits of intercropping and providing information on how to get started.
- A promising tree-diversification program is now underway in Ghana, after a series of WCF-supported farmer education seminars and training sessions. In addition, instructors developed an easy-to-use manual to help farmers through the process. The manual will help spread this practice throughout West Africa.