These new rules aim to combat deforestation and promote sustainable practices in cocoa production. The new EU regulation on cocoa cultivation primarily aims to combat deforestation. The EU believes that the consumption habits of its member states contribute to global deforestation and seeks to reduce this impact by regulating the importation of products like cocoa. The EU's sustainable cocoa program emphasizes that cocoa farming in Cameroon, which mainly takes place in forest ecosystems, must preserve animal and plant species. Riverbank areas are particularly fragile ecosystems where cocoa is often produced, resulting in potentially high risks of degradation. Moreover, some protected species of wildlife may be found in agricultural operations, and there may be illegal hunting practices in operations near natural forests and protected areas, notes the European Union in a study. An EU study reveals that the majority of cocoa farms in Cameroon have an average size of less than four hectares, exempting them from the requirement to conduct an environmental impact assessment. This requirement only applies to projects exceeding 100 hectares. However, the EU notes that very few farms exceed this size and meet this requirement

 Christelle koambi