Mitigation and adaptation to climate change under agroforestry systems in cocoa production in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest biomes

Man-made activity, particularly land use change due to the conversion of rainforest to agriculture, is a key driver of emissions in Brazil. According to the Greenhouse Gases Emissions Estimation System (SEEG), in 2023, Brazil recorded 2,295.6 MtCO2eq gross emissions, with the states of Pará and Bahia ranking high in gross CO2eq emissions due to land use change.

Cocoa is a climate-sensitive crop grown by smallholder farmers who are highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and increased incidence of pests and diseases reduce cocoa yields and threaten cocoa farmers' livelihoods. Climate projections for Bahía and Pará indicate rapidly rising temperatures and decreasing precipitation, drastically reducing cocoa productivity and threatening the sustainability of the supply chain and local economies.

This project aims to reverse the trend of deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions by agriculture and reduce the climate vulnerability of ecosystems in cocoa farming communities by recovering deforested areas in priority municipalities in Pará and Bahia. It will promote agroforestry systems integrating cocoa with shade trees and native species, offering a nature-based solution to build resilience and contribute to climate mitigation. Restoring 12,500 hectares of degraded land will begin by supplying cocoa-AFS kits to 2,500 smallholder farmers.

Supporting farmers in accessing public and private finance will contribute to scaling up project results in the future, and improved acknowledgement management and monitoring instruments will aid in establishing a specialised cocoa-focused extension network to broadcast sustainable practices across the value chain. The project’s focus on the Amazon biome supports a keystone for the planet’s biodiversity and climate. It emphasises gender equity and fair labour, particularly in the capacity building of women and youth.