The Sustainable Trade Initiative

About us

The cocoa sector plays a vital role in Cameroon for job and wealth creation for local communities, and for forest protection and ecosystem conservation. Globally, Cameroon is an important cocoa producing country, standing as the 4th largest producing country in the world. A role that is all the more important given that Cameroon’s tropical forests cover about 46% of the national territory and account for 11% of the forests in the Congo Basin. Cocoa companies and the Cameroonian government have recognized the risks posed by deforestation and the adverse effects of climate change and have understood that it is an important issue to be able to continue to grow cocoa while preserving the forest.

To increase cocoa production sustainably, protect National Parks and forest areas, and to help farmers find a sustainable livelihood, IDH and partners are supporting the development of a Roadmap to Deforestation-free Cocoa. The Roadmap is led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.