Project Narrative

Recognizing the needs and importance to restore cocoa ecosystems in West Africa, PUR Projet launched two projects in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Launched in 2018, the project in Ivory Coast, PUR aims to restore Cocoa ecosystems through agroforestry and improved livelihoods with the support and partnership of local cooperatives, farmers and key funders: Cargill, General Mills, Sucden, IDH and Puratos. “ We used to have a dry season and a rainy season. Now, the seasons are getting mixed up and the land is very dry. When all the sudden it rains, it often comes heavy and with strong winds. ” Project community member CONTEXTIvory Coast lost 80% of its forest since 1950, mainly because of agricultural expansion, perverse incentives, market failures and lack of knowledge and awareness. Cocoa producers in Côte d’Ivoire generally earn less than a minimum living wage. As a result, they often seek the lowest cost and short term option for new parcel development, leading to encroachment on primary and secondary forests. Unstable cocoa prices have also contributed to farmer poverty. Meanwhile, dependence on a monoculture of cocoa has contributed to unstable incomes and increased food insecurity.In addition, the prevailing Forest Law until recently was creating real disincentives for producers to install and maintain trees. The lack of land tenure and timber concessions systems are strong drivers of deforestation. Although the last version of the Forest Code provides a pathway for rights on naturally occurring and planted trees for farmers, significant education is needed to ensure law enforcement. The activities conducted by PUR Projet in the country build upon and align with the pre-competitive Cocoa and Forests Initiative and focus greatly on restoring cocoa-producing landscape while addressing the drivers of deforestation through education and improved livelihoods.