at the Center for
Development Research (ZEF)
University of Bonn

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  • Subproject 1
  • Subproject 2
  • Subproject 3
  • Subproject 4
  • Subproject 5
  • Subproject 6
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Project Overview

The montane rainforests ofsouth-eastern Ethiopiaare the cradle of wild Coffea arabica, the archetype of a large proportion of modern commercial coffee breeds. Due to the dwindling size of the montane rainforests the precious resource of wild Coffea arabica has become threatened.

The overall objective of the project Conservation and use of the wild populations of Coffea arabica in the montane rainforests in Ethiopia (CoCE)is to combine

• conservation of the genetic diversity of wild coffee with
• conservation of the diversity of species and ecosystems within the montane rainforests.

During the first project phase (CoCE I), from August 2002 to July 2006, the diversity and the economic value of the Ethiopian coffee gene pool and its forest habitat have been assessed.

The current second project phase (CoCE II), running from August 2006 to July 2009, focuses on the development of implementation strategies of model character for the concurrent conservation and use of both wild Coffea arabica and its natural habitat in the center of its diversity, the montane rainforests of southwestern Ethiopia.

As wild coffee is a component of these forests, its conservation can only be guaranteed if the montane rainforests themselves are being protected. Rainforest conservation thereby becomes conservation of the coffee gene pool and vice versa.

Specific conservation & utilization conceptsthat have been developed in throughout CoCE I provide the basis for

• concrete conservation and use activities for the wild coffee gene pool
• communication of issues concerning wild coffee and the montane rainforests
• environmental education and raising public awareness of biodiversity as well as
• raising awareness of the potential to transform wild coffee and other forest resources into real economic benefits via providing adequate incentives and effective financing mechanisms for longterm economic and social development.

Furthermore, CoCE II will focus on the development and implementation of

In-situ gene banks
i.e. the establishment of coffee populations in forest areas vacant of natural occurrences of wild Coffea arabica. We envisage two types of in-situ gene banks:

• areas reflecting the broad genetic diversity of natural populations
• areas comprising exclusively wild coffee plants that are eithertolerant to coffee diseasesor havelow caffeine contents.

Coffee Forest Information System (CoFIS) & Ethiopian Coffee Forest Atlas
as a basis for conservation and land-use planning. The atlas will include information on potential coffee forests, current land-use and population, recommendations for reserves for conservation, and wild coffee marketing, including trade infrastructure. Access to CoFISand theEthiopian Coffee Forest Atlasis provided via the Internet.

Coffee Forest conservation
We will develop guidelines for specific sets of rules and regulations as incentives for conservation and sustainable use within a forest conservation area at landscape level set up as biosphere reserve. This will include criteria for the

• development of a forest management and monitoring system
• development of financing mechanisms for conservation activities
• assessment of costs and benefits of a prospective coffee-forest protected area
• development of a certification procedure for wild coffee, in particular concerning a geographical indication, to achieve premium prices on the global market

In-depth research on genetic diversity and coffee plant ecology
i.e. fungal diseases and the relationship between site conditions and coffee quality.

The high species diversity of the montane rainforests and the genetic diversity of the wild coffee have been demonstrated satisfactorily by CoCE I. However, Ethiopian ecologists point out that a systematic pictorial documentation of the species' and ecosystem diversity of Ethiopia are still non-existent, which would be important for further botanical and zoological collection and research. Above all, it is central to convict political and administrative decision makers of the adoption of conservation measures for Ethiopian biodiversity.

Transdisciplinary research approach
Using a transdisciplinary approach, CoCE II will concentrate on implementation- oriented research and activities as well as on linking science, public and policy making. In a nutshell, it not only includes but

• goes beyond specific scientific disciplines and
• is based on participation
• characterized by systematic cooperation with all stakeholders concerned.

Although the research addresses selected topics, its outputs will be incorporated into implementation strategies and be translated into practical activities. Thus, the transdisciplinary research design strengthens the implementation orientation of the entire project (seesubproject 6for more detail).

Establishment and consolidation of a NGO
Part of this innovative approach is the strategy to disseminate and translate scientific results into action through the activities of a newly founded (end of 2005) local non-governmental organization. The Ethiopian Coffee Forest Forum (ECFF) is the first of its kind in Ethiopia to address coffee forest conservation issues. One of the main activities of ECFF will constitute of a process of collaborative conservation and use planning which will involve stakeholders at all levels.

Intended to guarantee the sustainability of the results of this process and the ongoing research, ECFF will strive for their implementation into action by

• communication, public awareness building and education
• as well as strengthening the institutions involved in the conservation and use of forest resources, in particular wild coffee.

ECFF itself is a potential organization that may assume responsibilities related to the establishment and management of a future protected area.