Replicating a sustainability initiative across sectors and geographies: HCSA’s experience in the West African cocoa sector

Companies and governments involved in the cocoa sector are urgently working to address deforestation and land use issues that have been prevalent in the sector for decades. Driven by mounting consumer pressure, key actors in the cocoa sector have joined forces to tackle the problems, adopting and developing international best practice, including the High Carbon Stock Approach (HCSA).  

This case study outlines the process and lessons taken from adapting the HCSA toolkit for use in the smallholder dominated sector of cocoa production in West Africa.