San Pedro, Côte d'Ivoire

Context 

Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s largest cocoa producer, with San Pedro as one of its key production landscapes. The region is a major sourcing hub for cocoa (206,938 T), natural rubber (250,286 T), and palm oil (454,558 T) for global commodity trading companies. San Pedro also hosts the world’s leading cocoa export port. Cash crops play a central role in the local economy, especially cocoa, which is produced almost entirely by smallholders. The San Pedro Landscape Initiative brings together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including local authorities, community representatives, national technical ministries, state-owned companies, implementing organisations such as Proforest and Impactum, sectoral agro-industry organisations (CCC, APROMAC), and agro-industrial companies. 

 

Objective of the landscape programme 

• To make San Pedro a green region where forests are protected and restored, biodiversity is preserved, and agriculture is both sustainable and climate-resilient, while improving living conditions for local communities. 

 

Activities and Proforest’s role 

• Promoting sustainable agriculture by establishing practitioner networks for cocoa, palm, and rubber. 

• Supporting forest protection and restoration through safeguarding and rehabilitating existing forests, reforesting degraded areas. 

• Improving community livelihoods by enhancing land tenure security, and empowering women’s and youth organisations for economic participation. 

• Strengthening land use governance by setting up governance structures. 

•  Facilitating community engagement in forest management and ensuring social and environmental safeguards. 

 

Results, outcomes to date 

• Strengthened collaboration among government agencies, communities, companies, and NGOs in managing land use. 

• Development of Management and Investment Plan for the San Pedro landscape 

• Development pf operational governance and monitoring systems that ensure accountability, safeguard communities, and deliver long-term conservation and livelihood benefits. 

 

Donors/partners, current and previous funding   

Partners include Impactum, GIZ, Government Ministries, Prefecture of San Pedro, Prefecture of Tabou, Sous-Prefecture of Djouroutou, Grabo, Djamadioke, Grand Bereby, Gabiadji, San Pedro,Traditional Authorities, San Pedro Region. The project was initially funded by German Government through IKI.