The Role of Coffee Forest Sanctuaries For Coffea Arabica's Survival

According to a report published by Forest Coffee Conservation Project (FCCP), the "forest coffee," found in south and southwestern Ethiopia can be considered the origin of Coffea Arabica.

• Forest coffee is self-sown and grows under the shade of natural forest trees.
• Coffee bushes are spread throughout the forest among giant trees.
• This biological environment is truly unique and it is the result of thousands of years.
• Natural forest coffee has a wide diversity of selections and is disease resistant.
• This type of coffee offers high yields and top quality aroma and flavor.
• There is a concern about the long term survivability of the forest coffee ecosystem in Ethiopia.
• As a result of deforestation, natural forest coffee habitat and its associated flora and fauna are diminishing at an alarming rate.
• The reason this is alarming is because the possible loss of Coffea Arabica would be irreversible. This would have negative consequences for international coffee breeding and production.

Every cultivated Arabica coffee plant around the world originated from this remote area. Coffee continues to grow in the wild, something that is not observed anywhere else. The beans harvested are usually used in blend but they are very enjoyable in single origin form as well.What is being done to prevent the loss of Coffea Arabica? Many efforts are underway and one of them is quite interesting.

• The Ethiopian government, who owns the forests and lands, with the help of international scientists, identified one forest as an important natural coffee forest. Kontir Forest, located in the Bench District, is possibly where all coffee on this planet originated.
• This claim is made because there is no other place on Earth that has the same diversity of coffee plants.
• The specific environmental protection objectives include: conservation of flora, fauna, micro-organisms, soil, water and other natural resources.
• Preservation of the germplasm ("seeds") of forest coffee plants in indoor and field gene banks.
• The objective is to maintain the genetic wealth of the country for future breeding programs aimed at producing improved coffee cultivars.
• Development of the rural communities through socio-economic services as incentives to promote conservation and adoption of sustainable land management practices.
• More specifically, the rural communities receive tree seedlings for the establishment of wood-lots or community lots they can use as a source for energy, construction, and other agro-forestry practices.
• Modern bee-hives are also very important for the natural pollination of the forest.
• In addition, the programs help establish coffee processing facilities, animal health clinics, health centers or clinics for the community, clean water sources and revolving credit funds to encourage private enterprise..

Kontir Forest, since 2003, is a primary coffee forest sanctuary and its protection includes armed guards to prevent deforestation, unauthorized coffee harvesting or any other possible damage. Kontir Forest is in the Sheko Forest which is already classified as one of the National Forest Priority Areas (NPA) in Ethiopia. Kontir Forest is not easily accessible and it represents about 20,000 acres out of the 417,000 total of Sheko Forest.

How do you protect a coffee forest? Best international practices and protection measures involve the local communities. Families living in the surrounding area have permission to collect the wild coffee in exchange for helping protect the forest. In order to prevent over exploitation of the forest, the harvesting is closely monitored and there are maximum yield quantities established. Local farmers organized into a coffee cooperative and obtained a certificate so their coffee is recognized as organic and a wild collection fruit. The quantities available are very limited but the benefits to the forest and the protection of Coffea Arabica for posterity are invaluable!
Kontir Forest is not the only forest sanctuary in Ethiopia. There are several others and hopefully the trend will continue: Boginda-Yeb Forest Area; Gega-Dogi Rivert Forest Area, Dao Tobi Forest Area, and Ebba Forest Area to name just a few.
What about a cup of delicious Ethiopian Longberry Harrar coffee freshly roasted to order?

Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "The Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.