Sustainable Livelihoods

More than 100 communities live within a few kilometres of Gola and for centuries they have used the forest for their livelihoods and community practices. Collaborating with them to protect the forest and its wildlife is therefore essential, especially as conservation can mean losing out on certain livelihood opportunities. The conservation enterprise programme is therefore designed to help community members develop more sustainable livelihoods, so they actively benefit from conservation.

Chocolate that saves the rainforest

Sustainable cocoa farming is one of those crucial livelihoods. For forest edge communities, cocoa is one of the primary cash crops in the region, with potential to bolster and diversify income for farmers in an area with few livelihood alternatives. With the support of GRC local cocoa farmers have joined together to farm ‘Forest Friendly Cocoa’ under their association Ngoleagorbu, meaning ‘we who belong to the forest’ in the local language of Mende.

Unlike the monoculture plantations of crops such as oil palm, cocoa can be grown under the forest canopy, and studies have shown that low-intensity cocoa farming can be compatible with rainforest conservation. Through the project, GRC is teaching farmers better agricultural practices, helping to improve both the yield and quality of crop. GRC also helps to connect the farmers association to international markets and secure organic and Fairtrade certifications to ensure that their cocoa is sold at a fair price.