Biodiversity Conservation
and Agroforestry

Biodiversity Conservation and Agroforestry

"Protecting Biodiversity and Restoring Ecological Balance"

Environmental stewardship is central to the Green Tropics Group's mission, ensuring the long-term viability of both cocoa farming and Ghana's natural resources. We work at the intersection of ecology and agriculture — restoring degraded land, protecting water sources, and embedding nature-positive practices into every farm we support.

Pra River Reforestation Project

Funded in partnership with Hotel Chocolat through their Gentle Farming programme.

Our flagship environmental initiative focuses on the reforestation of the watershed of the legendary Pra River in Akokobenumsu (near Akwasiho, Kwahu), carried out in partnership with the local community. The Pra River is a critical freshwater source for downstream communities — the majority of which are cocoa-growing communities in Ghana's Eastern and Ashanti regions.

• Thousands of trees planted along the Pra River headwaters each year, restoring biodiversity corridors and protecting the watershed from further degradation.
• Soil erosion prevention: Reforestation stabilises riverbanks and hillside soils, preventing sedimentation of the river and preserving water quality for downstream farming families.
• Community partnership: Local communities are active participants in tree planting and stewardship, ensuring long-term care and local ownership of the restored land.
• Climate resilience: Restored forest cover improves local microclimate conditions, reducing temperature extremes and supporting consistent rainfall patterns critical for cocoa production.

Agroforestry Integration

Beyond the Pra River project, GTG champions agroforestry models across all farms in our network — integrating diverse shade trees and economically valuable timber and fruit trees alongside cocoa. This approach delivers compounding benefits for farmers and the environment:

• Soil health: Shade trees fix nitrogen, add organic matter through leaf litter, and reduce surface temperature — improving soil structure and moisture retention.
• Biodiversity: Diverse canopy layers create habitat for birds, insects, and other wildlife that provide natural pest control services.
• Additional income: Economic trees (timber, oil palm, citrus) give farmers supplementary income streams, reducing reliance on cocoa alone.
• Carbon sequestration: Agroforestry systems store significantly more carbon than monocrop cocoa farms, contributing to climate mitigation goals.

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