The Impact of Chocolate Sales on the Environment

Why are consumers increasingly reaching for chocolate?

What percentage of the world's cocoa comes from West Africa?

What is the main environmental cost of meeting the world's appetite for chocolate?

What is the classification of the Upper Guinean forests of West Africa?

What percentage of its forest cover has Côte d'Ivoire lost since 1950?

What has been the primary driver of deforestation in West Africa?

What was the purpose of creating a high-resolution map of cocoa-growing areas?

What technology was used to create the high-resolution map of cocoa-growing areas?

What type of AI was used in the study to recognise and predict patterns in data?

What was the purpose of engaging field teams to conduct surveys at 2,000 random locations on the ground?

How much higher was the land area devoted to cocoa plantations than official figures in Ghana?

What percentage of deforestation in protected areas in Côte d’Ivoire is linked to cocoa production?

How many hectares of land under cocoa production are located in protected areas?

What percentage of deforestation in protected areas in Ghana is linked to cocoa production?

What is the estimated number of people who grow cocoa in West Africa?

What is the total area of cocoa plantations across both countries?

Chocolate Sales and Environmental Impact

Chocolate sales have increased recently due to the cost-of-living crisis, with consumers seeking affordable pleasures.
Cocoa beans, the primary ingredient in chocolate, are mainly sourced from West Africa, with 70% of global production coming from Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.

Environmental Cost of Cocoa Production

The expansion of cocoa farms has led to massive deforestation in West Africa, with Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire losing 65% and 90% of their forest cover, respectively, since 1950.
The Upper Guinean forests of West Africa are classified as a "global biodiversity hotspot" due to their exceptional concentrations of plant and animal species.

Cocoa Farming and Deforestation

Cocoa plantations are a primary driver of deforestation, along with other crops, mining, and logging.
The exact contribution of cocoa to deforestation is unclear due to a lack of accurate, high-resolution maps of cocoa-growing areas.
Up to 37% of forest loss in protected areas in Côte d'Ivoire and 13% in Ghana may be linked to cocoa production.

Mapping Cocoa Production

Researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) and neural networks to create a high-resolution map of cocoa plantations in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.
The map covers over 7 million hectares of plantations, exceeding official figures by up to 40% in Ghana's case.
More than 1.5 million hectares of cocoa production are located in protected areas.

Fixing the Problem

The map highlights the significant role of cocoa in forest destruction in West Africa, including in protected areas.
The problem is complex, with no easy solution, and requires a comprehensive approach to address the environmental impact of cocoa production.

Chocolate sales have surged in recent months, but at what environmental cost? Learn about the effects of chocolate production on the tropics and West Africa.