Cocoa

Côte d'Ivoire

Ghana

Cocoa deforestation is the amount of deforestation within a 15-year allocation period that is converted to cocoa plantations. To calculate it, we overlapped the cocoa area map from (Kalischek et al., 2023) (representing cocoa plantations in 2019 to 2021) with the annual loss of undisturbed Tropical Moist Forests from the EC JRC Tropical Moist Forest dataset (Vancutsem et al., 2021), applying a four-year lag between deforestation and first potential harvest to reflect the time from planting to harvest. Note that this does not account for cocoa expansion after 2021, and values for the most recent 2 years may change in the future when new versions of the Tropical Moist Forest dataset are released, updated to reflect whether recent forest change shows temporary degradation or permanent deforestation.

This metric estimates the amount of undisturbed forest converted to cocoa plantations over a 15 year period that is associated with cocoa production and exports in a selected year and department (Renier et al., 2023; Vancutsem et al., 2021). To estimate the deforestation associated with cocoa exports in a given year, we apply: a) a four-year lag between cocoa planting and the first harvest, reflecting the time required for plantations to become productive, and b) a 15-year allocation period over which plantations may contribute to traded cocoa volumes. Cocoa deforestation in 2021 is therefore calculated as the area of undisturbed forest converted to cocoa plantations between 2002 and 2017 at the location of cocoa production (Kalischek et al., 2023).

Côte d’Ivoire - Cocoa deforestation

Annual deforestation embedded in cocoa harvest represents the area of forest loss associated with cocoa harvested in the current year, accounting for a four-year lag between land clearing and production.

This metric estimates the annual amount of undisturbed forest converted to cocoa plantations that is associated with cocoa production and exports in a selected year and department (Renier et al., 2023; Vancutsem et al., 2021). To estimate the deforestation associated with cocoa exports in a given year, we apply a four-year lag between cocoa planting and the first harvest, reflecting the time required for plantations to become productive. Cocoa deforestation in 2021 is therefore calculated as the area of undisturbed forest converted to cocoa plantations in 2017 at the location of cocoa production (Kalischek et al., 2023).

Côte d’Ivoire - Annual embedded cocoa deforestation

Gross CO₂-equivalent emissions from cocoa deforestation (15-year allocation period, 4-year lag), estimated from the loss of above- and below-ground biomass (excluding soil carbon). Carbon stocks were converted to CO₂-equivalent by multiplying by 3.67. To calculate above and belowground biomass loss, we overlapped the cocoa area map from (Kalischek et al., 2023) (representing cocoa plantations in 2019 to 2021) with the loss of undisturbed Tropical Moist Forests from the EC JRC Tropical Moist Forest dataset (Vancutsem et al., 2021), applying a four-year lag between deforestation and first potential harvest to reflect the time from planting to harvest. Note that values for the most recent 2 years may change in the future when new versions of the Tropical Moist Forest dataset are released, updated to reflect whether recent forest change shows temporary degradation or permanent deforestation.

This metric estimates the gross greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with cocoa-driven deforestation over a 15-year period expressed in tonnes of CO₂-equivalent, and embedded in cocoa trade.  Emissions are calculated from the carbon stored in above- and below-ground biomass lost when undisturbed forest is deforested (excl. degradation) (Vancutsem et al., 2021) and converted to cocoa plantations (Kalischek et al., 2023), excluding soil carbon. To link emissions to cocoa exports, the metric applies a four-year lag between deforestation and the first cocoa harvest, reflecting the time required for cocoa trees to become productive, and allocates impacts over a 15-year production period. Carbon stock estimates are based on local biomass density data (Soto-Navarro et al., 2020) and converted to CO₂-equivalent using a factor of 3.67 (Pachauri et al., 2015). Estimates are based on cocoa plantation maps (Kalischek et al., 2023) and tropical forest loss data from the EC JRC Tropical Moist Forest dataset (Vancutsem et al., 2021). Values for recent years may change in future dataset updates as recent forest disturbance is reclassified over time.

Côte d’Ivoire - Gross emissions from cocoa deforestation

Annual gross CO₂-equivalent emissions embedded in cocoa harvest were estimated from the loss of above- and below-ground biomass (excluding soil carbon). Carbon stocks were converted to CO₂-equivalent by multiplying by 3.67. To calculate above and belowground biomass loss, we overlapped the cocoa area map from (Kalischek et al., 2023) (representing cocoa plantations in 2019 to 2021) with the annual loss of undisturbed Tropical Moist Forests from the EC JRC Tropical Moist Forest dataset (Vancutsem et al., 2021).

This metric estimates the annual gross greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with cocoa-driven deforestation expressed in tonnes of CO₂-equivalent and embedded in cocoa trade. Emissions are calculated from the carbon stored in above- and below-ground biomass lost when undisturbed forest is deforested (excl. degradation) (Vancutsem et al., 2021) and converted to cocoa plantations (Kalischek et al., 2023), excluding soil carbon. To link emissions to cocoa exports, the metric applies a four-year lag between deforestation and the first cocoa harvest, reflecting the time required for cocoa trees to become productive. Carbon stock estimates are based on local biomass density data (Soto-Navarro et al., 2020) and converted to CO₂-equivalent using a factor of 3.67 (Pachauri et al., 2015). Estimates are based on cocoa plantation maps  (Kalischek et al., 2023) and tropical forest loss data from the EC JRC Tropical Moist Forest dataset (Vancutsem et al., 2021). Values for recent years may change in future dataset updates as recent forest disturbance is reclassified over time.

Côte d’Ivoire - Gross emissions from annual cocoa deforestation

Net greenhouse gas emissions from cocoa deforestation (15-year allocation period, 4-year lag), were calculated as the difference between gross emissions from cocoa deforestation and sequestration in new cocoa plantations. To calculate above and belowground biomass loss, we overlapped the cocoa area map from (Kalischek et al., 2023) (representing cocoa plantations in 2019 to 2021) with the loss of undisturbed Tropical Moist Forests from the EC JRC Tropical Moist Forest dataset (Vancutsem et al., 2021), applying a four-year lag between deforestation and first potential harvest to reflect the time from planting to harvest. Note that values for the most recent 2 years may change in the future when new versions of the Tropical Moist Forest dataset are released, updated to reflect whether recent forest change shows temporary degradation or permanent deforestation.

This metric estimates the net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with cocoa-driven deforestation over a 15-year period expressed in tonnes of CO₂-equivalent, and embedded in cocoa trade. Net emissions are calculated as the difference between gross emissions from the loss of above- and below-ground biomass in undisturbed forests converted to cocoa plantations and carbon sequestration in cocoa and shade trees (Vervuurt et al., 2022), excluding soil carbon and forest degradation. To link emissions to cocoa exports, the metric applies a four-year lag between deforestation and the first cocoa harvest, and allocates impacts over a 15-year production period. Estimates are based on cocoa plantation maps (Kalischek et al., 2023) and tropical forest loss data from the EC JRC Tropical Moist Forest dataset (Vancutsem et al., 2021). Values for recent years may change in future dataset updates as recent forest disturbance is reclassified over time.


Côte d’Ivoire - Net emissions from cocoa deforestation

Net greenhouse gas emissions from annual cocoa deforestation were calculated as the difference between gross emissions from annual cocoa deforestation and sequestration in new cocoa plantations. To calculate above and belowground biomass loss, we overlapped the cocoa area map from (Kalischek et al., 2023) (representing cocoa plantations in 2019 to 2021) with the loss of undisturbed Tropical Moist Forests from the EC JRC Tropical Moist Forest dataset (Vancutsem et al., 2021).

This metric estimates the annual net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with cocoa-driven deforestation expressed in tonnes of CO₂-equivalent. Net emissions are calculated as the difference between gross emissions from the loss of above- and below-ground biomass in undisturbed forests converted to cocoa plantations and carbon sequestration in cocoa and shade trees (Vervuurt et al., 2022), excluding soil carbon and forest degradation. To link emissions to cocoa exports, the metric applies a four-year lag between deforestation and the first cocoa harvest. Estimates are based on cocoa plantation maps (Kalischek et al., 2023) and tropical forest loss data from the EC JRC Tropical Moist Forest dataset (Vancutsem et al., 2021). Values for recent years may change in future dataset updates as recent forest disturbance is reclassified over time.

Côte d’Ivoire - Net emissions from annual cocoa deforestation

Ghana - Cocoa deforestation embedded in trade

Estimated production of cocoa based on national production data, cocoa areas, and cocoa suitability. Cocoa areas are from (Kalischek et al., 2023), based on satellite observations from 2019 to 2021.

This metric represents the estimated volume of cocoa production per department in Côte d'Ivoire in tonnes (t) per year. Department level cocoa production was calculated based on national production statistics, derived from the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO, 2023) and allocated to the individual departments weighted based on the cocoa area (see above) and relative cocoa suitability (Schroth et al., 2016) of plantations (Kalischek et al., 2023). Note, only the total cocoa production from ICCO varied between 2019 to 2022, while cocoa area and suitability were assumed stable for the whole period.

Côte d’Ivoire - Production of cocoa

Average cocoa yield combining cocoa production (annual) and the cocoa area map from (Kalischek et al., 2023) (representing cocoa plantation in 2019 to 2021).

Cocoa yield per department was calculated based on cocoa area and cocoa production as tonnes produced per hectare (t/ha).

Côte d’Ivoire - Cocoa yield

Ghana - Annual embedded cocoa deforestation

This metric estimates the gross greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with cocoa-driven deforestation over a 15-year period expressed in tonnes of CO₂-equivalent, and embedded in cocoa trade. Emissions are calculated from the carbon stored in above- and below-ground biomass lost when undisturbed forest is deforested (excl. degradation) (Vancutsem et al., 2021) and converted to cocoa plantations (Kalischek et al., 2023), excluding soil carbon. To link emissions to cocoa exports, the metric applies a four-year lag between deforestation and the first cocoa harvest, reflecting the time required for cocoa trees to become productive, and allocates impacts over a 15-year production period. Carbon stock estimates are based on local biomass density data (Soto-Navarro et al., 2020) and converted to CO₂-equivalent using a factor of 3.67 (Pachauri et al., 2015). Estimates are based on cocoa plantation maps (Kalischek et al., 2023) and tropical forest loss data from the EC JRC Tropical Moist Forest dataset (Vancutsem et al., 2021). Values for recent years may change in future dataset updates as recent forest disturbance is reclassified over time.

Ghana - Gross emissions from cocoa deforestation

Ghana - Gross emissions from annual cocoa deforestation

This metric estimates the net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with cocoa-driven deforestation over a 15-year period expressed in tonnes of CO₂-equivalent, and embedded in cocoa trade. Net emissions are calculated as the difference between gross emissions from the loss of above- and below-ground biomass in undisturbed forests converted to cocoa plantations and carbon sequestration in cocoa and shade trees (Vervuurt et al., 2022), excluding soil carbon and forest degradation. To link emissions to cocoa exports, the metric applies a four-year lag between deforestation and the first cocoa harvest, and allocates impacts over a 15-year production period. Estimates are based on cocoa plantation maps (Kalischek et al., 2023) and tropical forest loss data from the EC JRC Tropical Moist Forest dataset (Vancutsem et al., 2021). Values for recent years may change in future dataset updates as recent forest disturbance is reclassified over time.

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