Ivory Coast forest clearances threaten cocoa exports, human rights
 By Ange Aboa and Joe Bavier, ReutersBALEKO-NIEGRE, Ivory Coast - The Ivory Coast is clearing tens of thousands of cocoa farmers from protected forests, threatening exports from the world's top grower and leading to complaints about human rights abuses.
Displaced cocoa farmers from the village of Baleko-Niegre leave with their belongings, in a protected forest about 70 km (43 miles) from the city of Sassandra, south western Ivory Coast June 16, 2013. The Ivory Coast is clearing tens of thousands of cocoa farmers from protected forests, threatening exports from the world's top grower and leading to complaints about human rights abuses. President Alassane Ouattara's government says it is prepared to pay the economic price of phasing agriculture out to save the dwindling tropical forest and the security services have started flattening houses and forcefully removing the farmers. Picture taken June 16, 2013. REUTERS/Luc Gnago (IVORY COAST - Tags: AGRICULTURE POLITICS)Luc Gnago / Reuters / X01459
By PhotoBlog
By Ange Aboa and Joe Bavier, Reuters
BALEKO-NIEGRE, Ivory Coast - The Ivory Coast is clearing tens of thousands of cocoa farmers from protected forests, threatening exports from the world's top grower and leading to complaints about human rights abuses.
The European Union estimates three-quarters of the West African country's forests have disappeared in the past five decades, mainly due to farming including cocoa plantations.
President Alassane Ouattara's government says it is prepared to pay the economic price of phasing agriculture out to save the dwindling tropical forest and the security services have started flattening houses and forcefully removing the farmers.
"In America, you couldn't imagine people illegally occupying Central Park just because they say they have nowhere else to live, could you?" said government spokesman Bruno Kone. Continue reading