The online news source Triple Pundit recently reported that Kraft foods is coming out with a line of environmentally friendly chocolate, called Cote d’Or.  The cocoa for this chocolate comes from farms that have been certified by the Rainforest Alliance, which means that their practices are considered environmentally sustainable.  Specifically, sustainable cocoa farming means a diverse agricultural system, which mixes many native species together in the same area.  This method conserves the natural habitat of the forest and creates corridors for animals to comfortably pass through, which can help prevent the extinction of these species.

It is particularly important to pay attention to the sustainability of crops harvested in tropical climates, such as cocoa and coffee, because rainforests are usually cleared to make room for these plants.  Cocoa farms cover over 18 million acres of tropical area, so even this single crop can have a massive impact on the state of the rainforest.  These forests provide habitats to the greatest variety of species of any ecosystem, and are crucial to converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, thus counteracting the greenhouse effect.