NABU in cooperation with the Ethiopian Government, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) within the framework of the International Climate Protection Initiative., started a project to protect the last natural forests in the birthplace of wild Coffea arabica. In the last 10 years, almost 43% of these forests have disappeared, as they have been transformed into arable land causing loss of biodiversity and greenhouse gases emissions.
12,000 hectares of forest are now managed by the local communities. By introducing the so-called Participatory Forest Management (PFM), 4,500 farmers are at the same time legally entitled to collect wild coffee cherries and obliged to conserve the forests. To date 27 cooperatives have joined the Kafa Coffee Farmers Union and organize the professional processing and quality control of the coffee beans. Since 2005 wild beans are exported to Europe at a price that benefits the farmers. Today, for the families of the coffee collectors – a total of 50,000 people – wild coffee is the principal source of income. This development was possible because Original Food imports the sun-dried beans and established an access to the specialty coffee market. From the 2006/7 harvest onwards, “wild collection” and “fair for life” certification enhanced the marketing success.
This project will also ensure the conservation of biodiversity in the region, especially of the Arabica coffee, which has almost 5,000 different varieties. It will be a model for other future international projects, combining climate and resources protection with sustainable local development.

**All images from Creative Commons.