But there is a reason for hope.
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Dear readers, this week we got a taste of the dark consequences behind our love for chocolate...
The average American consumes about 9.5 pounds of chocolate a year. In Switzerland that figure is 19.8 pounds. But this wolfish demand has led to the decimation of forests in West Africa, especially in Ivory Coast and Ghana, where most of the world’s cocoa originates.
Rainfall is down, temperatures have risen and biodiversity has dwindled in one of the most naturally rich forest habitats in the world, home to endangered animals including chimpanzees, elephants and pygmy hippos. Forests once loud with animal sounds are now graveyards. The soil, overused, has lost its fertility.
But there is a glimmer of hope for the region, writes Shola Lawal. A raft of efforts by governments, NGOs and big chocolate brands aim to cut deforestation. And recent data suggests they may be having some success.
What do you think? We'd love to hear from you. Cheers, Laura, Amanda and Kyla |
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