at the Center for
Development Research (ZEF)
University of Bonn
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Last updated: November 17, 2008
The popular Arabica coffee variety comes from the mountainous forests of Ethiopia. The wild types of Arabica grow at around 1000 to 1900 meters above sea level.
Their resistance to blight and their adaptability make them a valuable resource for the cultivation of new strains of coffee beans. But locals need land to grow food and fields for their livestock to graze. This "hunger" for more land has led to the destruction of ever larger swathes of forest through slash and burn clearances and logging. A project undertaken by the University of Bonn in Germany aims to protect the forests and utilize the genetic diversity of the coffee plants to cultivate new strains for industry.
Published on June 22nd, 2009 on YouTube.com by Deutsche Welle English.
It's not easy working on humanitarian or development issues in Ethiopia nowadays. The reason: A new law limits foreign donations to local non-governmental organizations - to not more than 10 percent of their total funding - and restricts the action of foreign and local organizations focusing on issues like human rights, democracy, and gender.
By Tiziana Cauli. Published on March 25th, 2009 onDEVEX.com.Download article asPDF.
Opinion article by Kassahun Tesfaye. Published on August 10th, 2008 onAddis Fortune.Download article asPDF.
U.N. eyes Ethiopian crop for rules on natural richesNinth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 9)
A deal to market Ethiopia's staple cereal, teff, to health-conscious Westerners may provide a model for ensuring the benefits of biodiversity are shared between local people and firms exploiting natural resources. The case illustrates one of the most difficult issues at a May 19-30 United Nations conference in Bonn where delegates are discussing ways to protect the diversity of life on earth.
Article published on May 26th, 2008 onReuters.com.Download article asPDF.
(How much does an ecosystem cost?) Article published on May 20th, 2008 onDeutschlandfunk, dradio.de,a public news and information service based in Cologne, Germany. Download article asPDF.
"Was kostet ein Ökosystem"? Forscherteams bestimmen monetäre Werte für BiodiversitätAudio broadcast to the article above on Deutschlandfunk, dradio.de.
"Wir können nicht noch länger warten".Interview with the German Minister for Research and Education, Annette Schavan at the Convention on Bilogical Diversity in Bonn, Germany. Published on May 18th, 2008 onPR-inside.com,a private news and information service based in Vienna, Austria. Download article asPDF.
Ethiopia: Experts Raise Need to Certify Forest Coffee.
Arcticle published on April 24th, 2008 onallAfrica.com,a private news and information service based in Mauritius.
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Arcticle published on November 6th, 2008 onBonner Wirtschaftsblog,a private business news service based in Bonn, Germany. Download article asPDF.
Wilder Kaffee wird immer beliebter. Artenschutz: Bonner Forscher untersuchen den Geschmack der Bohnen.
Arcticle published in Juli 2007 inGeneralanzeiger Bonn,a Dayly newspaper from Bonn, Germany
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Arcticle published in March 2006 ine.velop,an online magazine of the Federal Government of Germany
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Die Gene der Kaffeepflanze: forschens- und schützenswert
Radio broadcast on March 16th, 2005 onWDR 5,a public radio station based in Cologne, Germany
Joint efforts said crucial to protect dwindling forest coffee
Article published on February 14th, 2005 byWalta Information Center,a private news and information service based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Forum established to properly utilize, conserve wild coffee
Article published on December 3rd, 2004 byWalta Information Center,a private news and information service based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Article published on August 23rd, 2004 inDas Parlament,a weekly paper of the Deutscher Bundestag (Federal Parliament of Germany). Download article asPDF.
Wilder Kaffee in äthiopischen Bergregenwäldern
Article published in November 2003 ine.velop,an online magazine of the Federal Government of Germany
Kaffeeanbauland Äthiopien
TV Broadcast on June 15th, 2005 onSWR,German South West TV Broadcast