Côte d’Ivoire faces land use conflicts between cocoa and gold mining

Côte d’Ivoire is experiencing significant tension between its two primary economic pillars: cocoa production and gold mining. Cocoa accounts for approximately 40 percent of the nation's export revenues and supports over six million people. However, the rapid expansion of artisanal and small-scale gold mining has led to land use disputes, communal violence, and environmental degradation.

In regions such as Bouaflé and Daloa, miners have cleared cocoa trees to access gold-bearing soil, causing direct economic losses for farming families. Furthermore, the use of chemicals like mercury and cyanide in mining has contaminated waterways essential for cocoa irrigation, raising health and crop concerns. These conflicts are exacerbated by ambiguous land tenure systems where customary arrangements often lack formal documentation.

Simultaneously, the industry faces pressure from the European Union Deforestation Regulation, which requires strict traceability to ensure products are not linked to forest degradation. Stakeholders in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea are exploring agroforestry—integrating shade, fruit, and timber trees into cocoa farms—as a method to improve climate resilience and meet international sustainability standards while protecting forest cover.