In the lush heart of Cameroon’s cacao country, a quiet but powerful revolution is taking place. The Indigenous Baka communities, long stewards of the rainforest, are proving that cocoa farming and forest conservation can go hand in hand — safeguarding biodiversity while securing their livelihoods.
For generations, the Baka people have relied on the rainforest not only as a source of income through cocoa cultivation, but also for food, medicine, and cultural sustenance. Their connection to the land is deep and spiritual.
“We live with the forest and the forest lives with us. And now we live off the forest. When we take care of the forest, it also provides for us and helps our cocoa farms thrive,” explained 26-year-old cocoa farmer René Etoua Meto’o, who tends a family plot in the East Region.
This delicate balance is under increasing strain. Between 2023 and 2024, the price of cocoa skyrocketed from around $3 to nearly $8 per kilogram. For Cameroon, where cocoa contributes about 12% of annual export revenues, the surge might seem like a windfall. However, the higher prices have also sparked fears of accelerated deforestation, as farmers clear more land to cash in on the global demand.
The Threat of the Cocoa Gold Rush
Cameroon’s rainforests are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth, forming part of the vast Congo Basin — the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world. These forests are home to endangered species such as forest elephants, gorillas, and countless unique plant species.
But as global demand for chocolate grows, the temptation to convert more rainforest into cocoa farms has never been greater. Experts warn that without intervention, this “cocoa gold rush” could lead to significant biodiversity loss and displace the very communities who have acted as forest guardians for centuries.
“Indigenous people are very important in protecting ecosystems. They are the guardians of these forests, especially in the Congo Basin,” said Tessa Claude Ndala Mayouya, Communications Officer at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The Congo Basin Landscapes Initiative: Farming Without Deforestation
To address this challenge, the Congo Basin Landscapes Initiative, backed by UNEP and the Global Environment Facility, is equipping local farmers with the tools and knowledge to produce cocoa without cutting down trees.
Through training programmes, modern farming equipment, and technical guidance, the initiative helps farmers increase yields on existing farmland rather than expanding into untouched forest. This approach ensures that cocoa cultivation remains sustainable, protecting wildlife habitats and maintaining the forest’s vital role in regulating the global climate.
“We’re helping countries from the Congo Basin understand the principle that people need nature to thrive. To understand also that frontiers don’t really apply to forests,” Ndala Mayouya emphasised.
The project also connects farmers to ethical supply chains, enabling them to sell their cocoa at premium prices on the international market. This not only raises incomes but also rewards environmentally responsible farming.
From Cameroon’s Forests to the World’s Chocolate Shelves
The results of these efforts are tangible. Cocoa grown under the programme is now Rainforest Alliance Certified — a seal represented by a distinctive green frog on chocolate packaging worldwide.
“When you buy a bar of chocolate with the green frog, you are not just buying chocolate. You are ensuring that farmers will continue to produce while conserving biodiversity, while protecting the forest,” explained Nadège Nzoyem, Senior Director for West and Central Africa at the Rainforest Alliance.
The certification guarantees that the cocoa has been produced under strict environmental and social standards, ensuring that both nature and farming communities benefit.
Economic Gains Without Environmental Loss
The benefits of sustainable cocoa farming extend beyond conservation. For Baka farmers like René Etoua Meto’o, the initiative offers a path to financial stability without sacrificing their heritage. With higher yields from the same land, farmers can meet market demands while avoiding the long-term costs of environmental degradation.
By resisting the pressure to expand into virgin forest, communities are also protecting the ecosystem services the rainforest provides — clean water, fertile soil, carbon storage, and a stable climate. These services, while often invisible in market terms, are essential to human survival.
A Model for Africa and Beyond
Cameroon’s experience could serve as a blueprint for other cocoa-producing nations in West and Central Africa, many of which face similar pressures from global markets. By proving that sustainable farming is both profitable and environmentally sound, the Baka farmers and their partners are challenging the outdated notion that economic growth must come at nature’s expense.
The approach also aligns with global climate goals, as protecting tropical forests is one of the most cost-effective ways to mitigate carbon emissions. Given that agriculture is a leading driver of deforestation worldwide, initiatives like the one in Cameroon are crucial to balancing food production with environmental stewardship.
Global Responsibility for Sustainable Chocolate
While much of the responsibility lies with local producers and governments, consumers and multinational chocolate companies also play a decisive role. By demanding ethically sourced chocolate and paying fair prices for it, they can help ensure that cocoa farming remains a force for good.
For everyday consumers, the choice is simple but impactful: look for the green frog. Behind that small logo lies a network of farmers, conservationists, and communities working tirelessly to ensure that every bite of chocolate supports both people and the planet.
A Sweet Future for Cocoa and Forests
In Cameroon’s cacao country, the stakes are high — but so is the determination to succeed. With the rainforest’s towering trees as witnesses, the Baka people are crafting a future where cocoa production does not come at the expense of biodiversity.
As René Etoua Meto’o put it, caring for the forest means the forest will care for them. It is a truth as old as the forest itself, yet one that carries profound relevance in a world facing both climate and biodiversity crises.
Cameroon now stands as a testament that the future of chocolate can be sweet without being bitter for the environment. And as more consumers worldwide savour a Rainforest Alliance certified bar, they become silent partners in this vital conservation story — one delicious bite at a time.
