The Upper Guinean forest once ran in an unbroken belt along the West African coast from Guinea to Cameroon, and it is now among the most fragmented and most threatened rainforests on Earth. What remains holds chimpanzees, forest elephants, pygmy hippos, and a great many endemic species, in patches surrounded by farmland and cocoa and expanding towns.
Cocoa is the central problem and the central lever. Much of the world’s chocolate comes from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, and much of that cocoa was grown on land that was forest very recently, including inside supposedly protected reserves. That makes this a bioregion where the fate of the forest is decided partly in European supermarkets, and where supply-chain accountability is a conservation tool rather than a slogan.
The organizations here defend the remaining forest blocks, work with farming communities on agroforestry that can hold cocoa yields without clearing more ground, and protect the chimpanzees and forest elephants whose populations are now scattered and small. It is difficult work in countries with pressing human needs and thin budgets.
Environmental Organizations in This Bioregion
12 organizations working across this landscape.
Advocates for Community Alternatives
West Africa-based human rights organization supporting communities to fight the negative impacts of extractive development and pursue a sustainable future.
Amis de l\'Afrique Francophone- Benin (AMAF-BENIN)
Amis de l\'Afrique Francophone- Benin (AMAF-BENIN) is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with climate adaptation. Based in Cotonou, Littoral, Be...
Charit̩ Chr̩tienne pour Personnes en D̩tresse (CCPD)
CCPD is a registered Non-Profit Organization based in Togo working towards the reduction of pollution, reforestation, organic farming and preservation of land and w...
Clean Air One Atmosphere
Improving air quality through community-led air quality monitoring initiatives in Ghana and wider Africa.
ECO-BENIN
Eco-Benin is the pioneer of ecological and fair tourism promotion in Benin, and has 20 years experience in offering ecotouristic itineraries to encounter the count...
Environment and Food Foundation (E2F)
E2F works with children, youth, women and local community members to Halt, Reverse and Prevent the degradation of aquatic, marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Ezeora Women Farmers Association
To institute a Vibrant, prosperous and sustainable farming practice that ensures food security and contributes to economic growth of women
Geo-Environmental Resource Association (GERAS)
Cameroonian Geo-Environmental association in special consultative status with UN ECOSOC since 2017
Green Africa Youth Organization
Our mission is to research and provide solutions to pressing environmental issues through youth empowerment, skills development and public education.
International Centre for Environmental Education and Community Development (ICENECDEV)
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Meg Wah (My Earth)
Empower and enable local communities, children and young people to take care of our natural environment through endeavors such as engagement, policy changes.