LEAN aims to conserve biodiversity, build climate resilience, and reduce emissions from land-use changes.... Continue Reading
What's at Stake
West and Central Africa have strong rural economies set within some of the world's largest forest expanses. The Congo Basin spans eight countries, contains the world's second largest contiguous forest, and boasts abundant biodiversity and natural resources. It also provides food, water, and shelter to some 75 million people.
Cocoa farmers face economic hardship, climate change
Seventy percent of the world’s cocoa comes from West Africa, where cocoa cultivation is a way of life reaching back for generations. Most of the cocoa throughout the region is grown by smallholder farmers who struggle not only with economic hardship, but also with the effects of climate change—hotter temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and a shift in growing seasons.
Our Work
Sustainable agriculture and community forestry are powerful strategies for conserving the abundance of natural resources in West and Central Africa. In addition to our work to conserve the forests of the Congo Basin, we partner with farming communities to build climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture landscapes.
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The Future of Farming Begins with Young Farmers in Kenya
Future Farmers begins with a one-acre demo farm in Kagio, Kenya, where everything is an opportunity for experimentation and growth.... Continue Reading
Article
Cocoa Farmers Help Protect Last Primary Rainforest in Côte d’Ivoire
We're helping farmers increase their incomes and conserve a precious ecosystem.... Continue Reading
All resources for West & Central Africa
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Project Profiles
Project Profile: Landscapes and Environmental Agility across the Nation (LEAN)
LEAN aims to conserve biodiversity, build climate resilience, and reduce emissions from land-use changes.
Project Profiles
Project Profile: Advancing women’s rights through community-led landscape management in Mount Bamboutos
Women are the backbone of Cameroon's natural resource-based economy.
Project Profiles
Project Profile: Championing Community-led Landscape Management in Cameroon
Community-led landscape management is the best long-term solution to environmental and social challenges.
Article
Harnessing Digital Technology for Better Farming
Our digital innovation programs use mobile technology to deliver data-driven coaching to farmers.
The Rainforest Alliance Announces Winners of the International Ag-Tech Developer Challenge
The Rainforest Alliance’s Ag-Tech Developer Challenge received entries from 50 organizations globally. CropIn, India's leading agri-tech company, won first place, and 20tree.ai, an artificial
Project Profiles
Project Profile: Climate Cocoa Partnership for REDD+ Preparation in Ghana
This project restored forests on and between cocoa farms to increase resilience to climate change.