Liberia’s rapidly expanding cocoa sector is creating new economic opportunities across the southeastern region, but environmental experts and forestry officials are warning that the boom is accelerating forest loss and threatening critical wildlife habitats in Grand Gedeh County.
A recent report by environmental news outlet Mongabay highlights growing concerns over the impact of cocoa farming on some of Liberia’s remaining forests, particularly within and around the proposed Kwa National Park, where large tracts of land are reportedly being cleared for agricultural development.
Forest workers and community eco-guards operating in the proposed protected area say the expansion of cocoa plantations is increasingly encroaching on forest ecosystems that support some of West Africa’s most endangered species.
According to community eco-guard George Bowey, farmers have been clearing and burning indigenous trees to establish cocoa farms, a practice that is steadily degrading forest landscapes and wildlife habitats.
“We are seeing more forest areas being converted into cocoa farms,” Bowey said, noting that plantation expansion is reaching deeper into conservation zones.
The proposed Kwa National Park is recognized for its rich biodiversity and serves as a refuge for Liberia’s iconic wildlife, including western chimpanzees, forest elephants, pygmy hippos, pangolins, several monkey species, and crocodiles.
Although the area has yet to receive formal national park status, commercial farming activities are prohibited within its boundaries, and forestry authorities maintain regular patrols to monitor illegal encroachment.
Bowey said evidence from patrol activities suggests that wildlife, particularly chimpanzees and forest elephants, are retreating further into remote forest areas as cocoa plantations continue to spread.
The situation reflects a broader trend unfolding across Grand Gedeh County, one of Liberia’s most heavily forested regions. According to the Mongabay report, forest loss in the county has risen significantly since 2020, with substantial areas of primary forest reportedly disappearing during 2024 and 2025.
The growth of cocoa cultivation is being fueled in part by migrant workers from neighboring Côte d’Ivoire and other countries within the region. Many of these workers bring years of cocoa-farming experience and are invited by Liberian landowners seeking to establish commercial plantations.
For local landowners, the arrangement offers a potentially lucrative source of income from forested land. For migrant farmers, Liberia presents a rare opportunity to access new farmland at a time when suitable forest areas for cocoa production are becoming increasingly scarce in neighboring countries.
While these partnerships are generating economic benefits for some communities, they are also creating concerns over land governance, environmental sustainability, and future conflicts.
Many of the agreements between landowners and migrant farmers reportedly remain informal and undocumented. Without written contracts, community leaders and observers fear disputes over land ownership, profit-sharing arrangements, and long-term rights could emerge as cocoa production expands.
In Zleh Town, located in Gbarzon District, local leaders say cocoa farming has transformed large portions of customary land.
Town Chief Benson Genayn explained that community leaders establish expectations for incoming migrant workers and negotiate arrangements intended to ensure local communities benefit from cocoa revenues. However, many of these understandings continue to rely on verbal commitments rather than legally binding agreements.
The report also documents growing alarm among forestry officials responsible for safeguarding the county’s natural resources.
Forestry Development Authority (FDA) official Yei Neagor warned that extensive forest clearing in parts of Gbarzon District has already altered the landscape and that continued deforestation could leave future generations with little natural forest cover.
“Generations will judge us tomorrow,” Neagor cautioned, emphasizing the long-term consequences of unchecked forest destruction.
Law enforcement and forestry authorities are also facing mounting challenges in enforcing regulations designed to protect conservation areas from illegal agricultural activities.
The Mongabay report recounts an incident in which forestry rangers apprehended a young migrant worker from Côte d’Ivoire who was reportedly operating inside a prohibited cocoa farm located within protected forest land. Authorities indicated that several other workers linked to the same Liberian plantation owner had previously been detained for similar violations.
The incident underscores the growing difficulty of enforcing forest conservation laws as demand for additional cocoa-growing land intensifies.
Despite these concerns, many residents argue that cocoa farming has delivered tangible economic benefits to rural communities.
Youth leader Prince Tarley said cocoa production has enabled families to improve their livelihoods, construct better homes, and generate income in areas where economic opportunities remain limited.
For many rural residents, cocoa represents one of the few viable pathways to financial security. However, environmental advocates warn that short-term gains could come at the expense of ecosystems that provide long-term environmental and economic benefits.
The issue has also taken on greater international significance as global markets increasingly scrutinize agricultural commodities linked to deforestation.
The European Union, a key destination for cocoa exports, is preparing to implement stricter regulations aimed at preventing the import of products associated with forest destruction. Such measures could present serious challenges for Liberian producers if cocoa farms are found to have been established through deforestation.
As Liberia seeks to expand its cocoa industry, communities in Grand Gedeh find themselves at the center of a difficult balancing act: pursuing economic development while protecting the forests, wildlife, and natural resources that sustain future generations.
The findings presented by Mongabay suggest that without stronger land-use planning, formalized land agreements, and more effective forest protection measures, the cocoa boom could leave a lasting environmental footprint across southeastern Liberia.
