Gerome Tokpa, what inspired you initially to protect tropical forests in Ivory Coast?
We all see the danger we’re facing today with the climate change linked to the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. Forests are burning and the recent cases of fire in Canada are indicators that show the need to better protect our forests and environment. As for Ivory Coast, the trend of deforestation and forest degradation is very alarming. From 16 million of hectares in 1960, we are in 2015 at 3,5 million, which is more than 272 000 hectares of forest disappearing each year in the world biggest cocoa producer country.
Local communities rely on the forest for cocoa production: it regulates the local climate. Deforestation is linked to the cultivation of cocoa, rubber, palm, and other agricultural commodities. We should see deforestation in a holistic way and not only through the cocoa lens. These are some reasons why we from Earthworm are engaging in tropical forest protection.
The Cavally Forest project is a public-private partnership. Why does Earthworm pursue these approaches?
Ivory Coast as an emerging country cannot tackle deforestation alone. The private sector has also its responsibilities in the forest degradation because the goods that are produced come from countries like Ivory Coast. We have all our responsibilities in forest degradation.
But instead of saying X, Y or Z has more responsibilities in the deforestation issue, we should put our strengths together to protect and restore more forests. The past has shown us that when we act together, we can be the drivers of positive change. This is the main reason why we think public-private partnerships are the way to go.
Which methods in cocoa farming can help tackle deforestation?
We should increase the productivity in the current cocoa plantations because where cocoa producers are producing 450-500 kgs/ha, it is possible to increase productivity only by applying good agricultural and environmental practices. In our coaching activities, we are also setting up with them agroforestry systems: we help them to plant trees in the cocoa plantations. Three things are important to tackle deforestation. Firstly, better protect the remaining forests. Secondly, restore the degraded ones. And thirdly, set up agroforestry systems in plantations.
What can SWISSCO members do to help protect tropical forests?
SWISSCO is doing already a lot by supporting projects like the Cavally Landscape project. We hope that such funding will increase, and we do think that SWISSCO and its counterparts in other European nations such as Germany (GISCO) and France (FRISCO) could also put their strengths together to continue funding regenerative agriculture and forest protection in the countries of origin.