Conservation Efforts in West African Forests to Combat Deforestation

The forests of West Africa are currently under a severe threat as a result of deforestation and habitat loss caused by various activities such as mining, farming, and large-scale plantations. The Upper Guinean tropical forests, which extend from Guinea to Togo, as well as the Lower Guinean and Western Congo Basin forests in West Central Africa, are home to a diverse range of species that are at risk due to the expansion of cocoa, palm oil, and rubber plantations, as well as cashew farming.

Countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana have experienced significant replacement of their native forests with crops such as cocoa, palm oil, and rubber, leading to the loss of primary forest. Furthermore, the rapid expansion of cashew farming in the northern regions has exerted pressure on the rare plant species and wildlife that inhabit the wooded savannah landscape.

Mighty Earth, in partnership with local organizations, is actively engaged in efforts to halt the destruction of these critical habitats and to restore the native forests and wildlife habitats. The organization is also committed to holding large commodity companies accountable for their role in contributing to widespread deforestation and habitat loss.

The statistics concerning the extent of deforestation and forest loss in the region are deeply concerning. The destruction of primary forest in Ghana alone between 2002-2022 constitutes 12% of the remaining total, with a significant amount of tropical deforestation occurring in Africa in 2022 alone. Industrial rubber plantations in West and Central Africa have been linked to a substantial amount of deforestation since 2000, and recent cocoa-driven deforestation has encroached into protected areas of Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Furthermore, there are apprehensions regarding the global demand for superfoods leading to environmental degradation and posing a risk to food security in Côte d’Ivoire. The petition to hold companies like Starbucks accountable for paying farmers a living income, addressing child labor, and protecting forests, has been emphasized as a crucial step towards addressing these challenges.

It is imperative to address the underlying factors that are driving deforestation and habitat loss, and to implement sustainable solutions that facilitate the conservation of these vital ecosystems in West Africa. By collaborating with local communities, governments, and international stakeholders, initiatives can be implemented to reverse the devastating impact on the native forests and wildlife habitats. Effective action must be taken to protect the rich biodiversity of the region and ensure the long-term sustainability of these precious ecosystems.