Amazon cocoa cultivation supports restoration over deforestation

A new study conducted by Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, in partnership with the State University of Pará and the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, indicates that cocoa cultivation in the Brazilian Amazon is not driving deforestation. Instead, the expansion of cocoa planting is occurring on previously altered areas, such as degraded pastures and secondary vegetation, aiding in environmental restoration.

Data from the IBGE shows the North region produces half of Brazil's cocoa, totaling approximately 148,000 tons. Pará leads national production with 137,500 tons, accounting for 46% of the country's total. Rondônia follows as the second largest producer in the region, with an estimated 8,600 tons and high technical efficiency.

In a separate initiative, the National Institute of Amazonian Research (Inpa) has signed a technical cooperation agreement with the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (Coiab) and MATPHA. The ‘Dukutena Project’ aims to implement agroforestry systems in the Cabeceira do Rio Acre Indigenous Territory.

Funded by R$ 2.197 million over 48 months, the project will restore nearly 80 hectares of degraded land and plant 25,000 tree and fruit seedlings across eight Jaminawa and Manchineri communities. The initiative focuses on food security, income generation, and integrating scientific research with traditional indigenous knowledge.