Liberia is losing its rainforest at an alarming rate, according to satellite data that reveals rapid deforestation across one of West Africa’s last remaining intact rainforests. The primary driver, investigators found, is the expansion of illegal cocoa plantations supplying the global demand for chocolate.
To document the crisis, reporters traveled deep into Liberia’s forests to interview migrant cocoa workers, forest rangers, and community landowners. Their accounts trace a supply chain that stretches from a protected chimpanzee habitat to the European Parliament, where regulatory decisions shape market incentives.
The pattern mirrors a recent history across the border in Côte d’Ivoire, where historical migration fueled the country’s rise to become the world’s largest cocoa producer — a transformation that came at a steep environmental cost. Today, southeastern Liberia appears to be following the same trajectory, raising urgent questions about enforcement, corporate accountability, and the future of the region’s biodiversity.
Conservationists warn that without intervention, the forest loss could accelerate, threatening not only wildlife but also the livelihoods of communities who have long depended on the forest ecosystem. Policy discussions in forums like the European Parliament may offer a lever for change, but implementation gaps remain.
As global chocolate consumption shows no sign of slowing, the stakes for Liberia’s forests have never been higher. The coming months will test whether policy commitments translate into protection on the ground.
