Ivory Coast ousts illegal cocoa growers
The world's leading grower of cocoa, Ivory Coast is confronting the mounting problem of deforestation by evicting tens of thousands of illegal cocoa farmers from its eight national parks, five nature reserves and 231 forest preserves, says Reuters. The eviction campaign is one of the nation's last chances to save its dwindling virgin forests, but could mean a large decline in production of its major cash crop, which is the source of chocolate.