The cacao plant, Theobroma cacao, is native to the jungles of tropical America. It grows in a friendly way with other trees. Cacao trees can be planted together with native trees in deforested areas recreating a new analogous forest and biological corridors. If the plants are well managed, Cacao can also prevent further deforestation by bringing much needed income to families who care about their environment.

In this way, settlers are encourage to to stop logging more trees from the jungle to make money. Instead of logging or selling off their valuable land to plantation owners who clear cut the rainforest to grow monocultures such as the African Palm, now they have an alternative a good source of income from the cacao they harvest. Itapoa Reserve pays settlers 20% more than fair trade companies for their cacao as long as they continue to plant more native trees and stop cutting jungle trees.

Learn first hand about making chocolate by becoming a volunteer at the reserve or joining us in one of our rain forest tours. You can also buy 100% natural chocolate and coffee at the “Hosteria ITAPOA”, Malecon Julio Izurieta y Calle Abdon Calderon, Puerto Lopez, Manabi – Ecuador. All proceeds from their sale go directly towards supporting the conservation and reforestation of the rainforest jungle.

Easy to grow, easy and fun to harvest, easy to dry, easy to roast, easy to peel, easy to grind, and easy easy to make – CHOCOLATE TO SAVE THE RAIN FOREST