Illegal Cocoa Farming in Nigerian Rainforest Fuels Chocolate Industry

Cocoa farmers in Nigeria are illegally expanding their plantations into protected areas of the Omo Forest Reserve, a tropical rainforest that is home to endangered species and is one of Africa's largest UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. The cocoa from these deforested areas is purchased by major cocoa traders, including Olam Group and Starlink Global, who supply chocolate manufacturers such as Mars Inc. and Ferrero. The complex and opaque chocolate supply chain makes it difficult to determine if cocoa from the deforested areas makes it into the final products. The global demand for chocolate is increasing, leading to concerns about human rights abuses, exploitative labor, and environmental damage in the industry. Despite pledges and campaigns for traceable and sustainable sourcing, the enforcement of anti-deforestation policies remains a challenge in Nigeria.