World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting in Amsterdam
On February 17th, WCS EU Director Dr. Janice Weatherley-Singh spoke at the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) Partnership Meeting in Amsterdam, providing insights into the Wildlife Conservation Society’s work on sustainable commodities. The World Cocoa Foundation brings together leaders from producing countries, industry and civil society to discuss the future of sustainable cocoa production.
Participants at the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) Partnership Meeting in Amsterdam
Janice participated in a panel discussion, illustrating how the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) partners with sustainable cacao producers to drive forest protection and restoration.
Below are the key takeaways from Dr. Janice Weatherley-Singh's remarks:
- Many of the world’s last remaining intact tropical forests, such as Cross River National Park in Nigeria – home to gorillas, chimpanzees, and forest elephants – are increasingly under threat from expanding agriculture.
- WCS partners with companies to help mitigate deforestation risk and ultimately to achieve a deforestation-free landscape at scale - putting farmers and local communities at the centre of the solution.
- Achieving deforestation-free landscapes at scale requires integrated action, including improving traceability, strengthening community governance, partnering with local authorities, supporting farmer training, enabling alternative livelihoods (particularly for women), and deploying real-time monitoring tools.
- NGOs can play a key role as a “convener”, bringing together public and private actors through trusted, long-term relationships to align on a shared vision and coordinated action at the landscape level.
- Local communities and farmers are critical for long-term success: they must be at the heart of solutions, benefit from interventions, and be supported through safeguards and a human rights-based approach.
- Governments and local authorities are essential to create enabling conditions through leadership, policy frameworks, law enforcement, and guidance on local forest laws.
Speakers at the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) Partnership Meeting in Amsterdam