Extensive research conducted on world coffee species has been published recently by the England Royal Botanic Garden scientists, BBC and The Guardian reported. The research indicates 60 percent of 124 species are endangered.
More than 100 types of coffee tree naturally grow in forest, including two of which are widely used for drink in the world. Scientists say the figure is “worrying”, as wild coffee is the base of world coffee crop and the extinction of this species because of climate change and loss of forest is worsening the problem. The analysis was based on their examination of the 124 known coffee species, and an assessment was produced for the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which publishes the global Red List of threatened species. Due to this discovery, the wild relative of Arabica Coffee is now classed as endangered.
The study found that 75 wild coffee species are considered threatened with extinction, 35 are not threatened and too little is known about the remaining 14 to make any judgment. Furthermore, it was found that 28 percent of wild coffee species grow outside protected areas and only about half are preserved in seed banks.
“If it wasn’t for wild species we wouldn’t have as much coffee to drink in the world today,” said Dr. Aaron Davis of the Royal Botanic Gardens adding, “Among the coffee species threatened with extinction are those that have potential to be used to breed and develop the coffees of the future, including those resistant to disease and capable of withstanding worsening climatic conditions.”
Scientists feel threatened that Arabica Coffee (wild coffee) which grows in different parts of Ethiopia will show 85 percent decrease by 2080 and the land currently grows coffee decrease up to 60 percent and by the end of the century it will become unsuitable for coffee production. The Guardian stated that Ethiopia, the origin of Arabica coffee and the biggest exporter in Africa, exports 1billion Dollar worth of the crop annually. About 15 million people in the country work in coffee production.
Wild Arabica coffee, which is native to Ethiopia, is an important seed stock for coffee farming and is also harvested for commercial coffee production, so threats to it could have a damaging economic impact on the country. The assessment indicates also solutions. Working on the production and usage of wild coffee is key issue for ensuring the sustainability of the coffee sector.
“The use and development of wild coffee resources is key to the long-term sustainability of the coffee sector. Targeted action is urgently required in specific tropical countries, particularly in Africa, to protect the future of coffee,” said Davis. He said that in Ethiopia there was already a scheme for protected areas for the conservation of wild Arabica coffee.
Davis also called for renewed focus on germplasm collections, such as living collections and seed banks so that these could be made effective and sustainable for the long-term. He called too for better labeling of coffee products so consumers could become aware of the impact of their purchasing choices.
On Environmental Climate, Coffee and Forest Forum, higher researcher and consultant on coffee Dr. Tadesse Woldemariam told Addis Zemen that deforestation was happening for the past 30 and 40 years and the climate change is known.
He noted that as dry air increases the convenience for coffee production decreases and if we keep quite while seeing this problem, the threat the study has indicated will be certain. The threat will continue if no effort is made to protect the climate change, but if the effort underway continues, the threat brings about good opportunity, he said. As to Dr. Tadesse, the climate change may force coffee to flee even to the north from its native highland.
Transplanting coffee to the highlands, various management works applied to coffee at its current plantation area, reserving forest and keeping shade trees enable the nation control the threat. If the necessary development and preservation activities are carried out in the areas of coffee production, there will be an opportunity of growing four fold of the coffee production, he noted.
Government has intention of covering millions of hectares with forest as to Dr. Tadesse and the integrated work of different institutions is vital. Lack of integration leads each office like agriculture, forestry and climate sector to running individually focusing only on their own tasks as to him. Some forest experts even assume coffee as the enemy of forest said Dr. Tadesse. “In our country’s context, where there is coffee, there is forest. And this indicates coffee contributes for the preservation of forest”, he explained.
Firm effort must be exerted on participatory forestry in the country and the protection too must be participatory, as to Dr. Tadesse. Complementary effort makes effective contribution. Dr. Tadesse said, “This species is great treasure not only for Ethiopia but also for world coffee industry.”
He added that when Ethiopia’s coffee price is determined, its avail for environmental protection and coffee genetics must be taken into consideration. “We have to set high initial market price; we must not devaluate in dread of losing buyer. They come back for its better taste since they have no choice”.
Dr. Ytebitu Moges, coordinator for the program of gas emission, climate and forest commission, said that Arabica coffee is a species that grows under shade. He thinks that the threat of the assessors is that the south western forest is endangered. The forest is known for its biodiversity and the area is highly populated.
“This populous gradually leads firstly to destroying the bottom forest trees and replacing with coffee and in line with this, engaging to illicit timber production. The threat goes beyond today to 20 years in the future when all shade trees are destroyed; then, the coffee that cannot grow without shade will be endangered. Arabica coffee can endure only half (50%) of tropical sun.
Therefore, extended deforestation is disaster for our coffee,” Dr. Ytebitu said. Unless all deeds given proper care, as to Dr. Ytebitu, the coffee, the forest and the biodiversity will be endangered. “Considering this, we have begun applying participatory forest management in Red plus program on the basis of south west.”
Participatory forest protection is underway as to Dr. Yitebitu, but it has its own rifts. “For me protecting the forest through public participation is less effective way because of poverty. You can judge no one.” Instead, the forest can be saved with government’s shielding, he noted.
The Ethiopian Herald January 29 /2019
BY BACHA ZEWDIE
