Illegal Cocoa Plantations Drive Deforestation in Liberia
Liberia's rainforest is under severe threat from illegal cocoa plantations, with satellite data indicating a rapid rate of deforestation. In 2024 alone, 31,986 hectares of primary forest were lost, according to Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority (FDA). This loss is largely attributed to the expansion of cocoa farms, particularly by Burkinabé migrants in southeastern Liberia.
Grand Gedeh County, a focal point of this deforestation, has seen an influx of up to 80,000 migrant workers, exacerbating the pressure on the region's forests. This county experienced more forest destruction in 2025 than any other in Liberia since 2002, driven by a so-called 'cocoa rush' involving migrants from Côte d’Ivoire.
Between 2001 and 2024, Liberia lost approximately 2.52 million hectares of tree cover, representing about 27% of its 2000 tree cover. Nearly 28% of this loss is attributed to conversion for permanent agriculture, including cocoa plantations. Proposed protected areas like Kwa National Park are also under threat, with eco-guards mapping fields cleared for cocoa.