Illegal Cocoa Farming Threatens Nigerian Rainforest: AP Investigation Reveals

Illegal cocoa farming is threatening the Omo Forest Reserve in Nigeria, a protected tropical rainforest that is home to critically endangered African forest elephants, pangolins, and other wildlife. Cocoa from the conservation zone is being purchased by major global cocoa traders, including Olam Group and Starlink Global, and may potentially make its way into the supply chains of chocolate manufacturers such as Mars Inc. and Ferrero. The chocolate industry has made efforts to ensure sustainable and traceable sourcing, but the complex and opaque supply chain makes it difficult to determine if cocoa from deforested areas is used in their products.