Beyond the canopy: Mapping cocoa fields in Cameroon’s agroforestry systems for a deforestation-free cocoa

Cocoa in Cameroon, Africa’s third-largest producer, thrives under a natural forest canopy – sustainable, but challenging to map with precision.

Cameroon’s cocoa thrives in rich agroforestry systems, where cocoa trees coexist with towering forests, fruit trees like mango and avocado, and non-timber species such as bush mango and jansang. This sustainable approach preserves biodiversity and boosts ecosystem services. However, for Cameroon’s cocoa to access the EU market, its major outlet, it needs to comply with the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) which is reshaping cocoa markets by requiring proof that commodities have not been produced by converting forests to agricultural and other land uses, known as deforestation after 31 December 2020. 

Imma Tcheferi piloting a drone in an agroforestry cocoa plantation in Cameroon, with cocoa beans visible on the trees in the foreground. ©FAO/Aurélie Shapiro

Mapping both past and existing forested areas and land use is therefore vital to demonstrate that cocoa-derived products meet the new regulation standards. FAO, through its COCAFORI initiative (Cartography of Cocoa and Forest Impacts in Cameroon) and the Sustainable Cocoa Initiative (SCP), financed by the European Union, supports this effort in Cameroon by equipping stakeholders with advanced land cover and forest maps, as well as a state-of-the-art cocoa map. As field missions reveal that cocoa is scattered across fragmented forests, making it difficult to detect via satellite, FAO experts are using artificial intelligence-powered foundation models to develop a detailed cocoa map, while training local partners to collect on-the-ground data.

Mapping land cover to ensure sustainable and compliant cocoa production

From 9 to 13 March 2025, FAO forestry experts visited the Ebebda, Monatélé and Ntui areas of Cameroon to gather georeferenced data and photos directly from the field. Working closely with national partners, including cocoa producers, the Ministry of Commerce and the University of Yaoundé I, the team used a customised COCAFORI mobile app, assessed areas both within and beyond cocoa plantations and used drone imagery to capture additional perspectives from above the canopy.

To advance these efforts, the Government of Cameroon has established a technical working group, bringing together key ministries along with cocoa producers, cooperatives, NGOs and civil society.

The group is tasked with finalizing the national cocoa map, generating maps and datasets to assess risks, and developing tools and decision-support systems. All approaches, models and methods are freely available as part of FAO’s Open Foris solution SEPAL. 

With strong national participation and ownership of both the process and methodology, Cameroon is laying the foundation for a more sustainable cocoa sector grounded in shared responsibility and innovation. 

“The information being produced is a big step in enabling small-scale producers in Cameroon to access European markets for their cocoa products, while promoting best practices and sustainability,” explains Fidèle Kengni, Agricultural Policy Specialist at FAO Cameroon and SCP focal point in the country.

This mapping effort in Cameroon is part of a wider effort to transform the cocoa sector into a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive system, supported by the European Union’s Sustainable Cocoa Programme.

Sustainable Cocoa Initiative

This article was originally published here.