Côte d’Ivoire, Africa

Supporting in-farm reforestation and community-run conservation

About Côte d’Ivoire

Cocoa is a key driver of deforestation in Ivory Coast. Each year, approximately 150,000 hectares of forest are lost due to cocoa expansion.

Location

Bouafle

Trees Delivered

1,784,967

Beneficiaries

8,939

Hectares Restored

+100

Spieces Planted

+15

Intervention

Agroforestry

Overview

The Marahoue project is located in Bouafle, Ivory Coast where PUR is working within the supply chain of cocoa actors. Unstable cocoa prices have contributed to farmer poverty. Meanwhile, dependence on cocoa monoculture has contributed to unstable incomes and increased food insecurity.

Before 2014, the prevailing Forest Law was creating real and perceived disincentives for producers to install trees. The last version of the Forest Code provides a pathway for Rural Domain Producers, clarifies the rights of naturally occurring and planted trees, and recognizes customary rights.

The different projects conducted by PUR in the region build upon and align with the pre-competitive Cocoa and Forests Initiative and focus greatly on in-farm reforestation (including critical land-tenure support). Community-run conservation through awareness raising and improved cookstoves as well as income-generating activities such as beekeeping, diversified agroforestry models, and fish breeding are included. The goal is to adopt a landscape approach and to support additional farmers from the same communities.

In 2024, this project will support around 100 farmers to plant 20,000 trees.

Improving Livelihoods

Income-generating activities are developed to promote youth and female empowerment and entrepreneurial spirit. Each year, communities can voluntarily register to receive technical and business training. Individual and group projects are selected and coached by PUR’s project team. In addition, beehives are distributed, and beekeepers are trained. New activities are regularly considered, based on feedback and feasibility studies from the communities.