France, June 11 -- In northern Ghana, the unchecked felling of shea trees is placing the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of women at serious risk. Shea nut collection, a centuries-old tradition and a vital economic activity, is under threat as illegal logging intensifies across the region.

For more than 900,000 women in the Northern, Upper East, and Upper West regions, gathering shea nuts is more than a seasonal chore; it is a lifeline. These women harvest over 130,000 tonnes of dried nuts annually, supporting their families and contributing significantly to local economies-especially during the lean farming season.

Many of the women are contracted by companies to collect the nuts on their behalf, although the companies contacted b...