West & Central Africa

Expansive Forests, Vital Rural Economies

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.

Stunning Biodiversity

The rainforests of the Congo Basin provide habitat to an array of spectacular yet endangered wildlife, such as lowland mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, drills, bonobos, and elephants. The region's rivers, forests, savannas, swamps, and flooded forests contain 10,000 plant species, as well as 400 mammal species and 1,000 bird species—many of these species are endangered or threatened.

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.

Addressing Challenges in West African Cocoa Farming

Our West Africa Director talks about the ongoing challenges in the cocoa sector.

Cocoa Farmers Help Protect Last Primary Rainforest in Côte d’Ivoire

We're helping farmers increase their incomes and conserve a precious ecosystem.

Community Forestry in Cameroon

The communities in the Congo Basin possess tremendous knowledge about the region's biodiversity, and their harvesting of forest products generates critical household income.

Learn more about our key projects in this region.

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Our Impact

When it comes to sustainability, the definition of success takes many forms. Whether it is rising populations of endangered species, robust crop yields, or higher and more stable incomes for smallholder farmers, studies show that the best management practices we promote throughout West and Central Africa produce results.

3,500 Acres of Cocoa Plantations Rehabilitated

We are working in Côte d’Ivoire to renovate and rehabilitate 3,500 acres (1,400 hectares) of cocoa plantations, advance sustainable cocoa production, and improve the livelihoods of smallholders who depend on cocoa as their main source of income.

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Growing Population of Endangered Lowland Gorillas

Numerous studies show that endangered lowland gorillas in the Congo Basin have rebounded to "healthy populations" in forests that are certified to the Forest Stewardship Council standard, the rigorous set of criteria to which the Rainforest Alliance conducts its forestry audits.

Read WWF Study

Learn more ways we are achieving real results.

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