Coffee production and its productivity are now focused as a strong sector in the big economic, social but also environmental challenges facing the growing communities now and over the coming years. In Africa it is now vital to hold discussions focused around how Coffee demands will affect climate and lead to climate change, biodiversity and environment, and contributions to nature conservation.
AUC launched a Coffee Biodiversity Initiative (CBI) that builds on land sparing and land sharing as an offset practice that was innovated by scientific studies “Towards developing sustainable, biodiversity-rich agriculture systems ” born out of “Conserving Biodiversity in the Modernizing Farmed Landscapes in coffee – Banana Arc 17 years ago. This is because for the past years Coffee is the most traded agricultural crop while supporting the life of multiple ecological communities mainly in most of rural Africa. Most of the Coffee species are (Coffea arabica & C. canephora). The species’ survival depends heavily on biodiversity workings.
We acknowledge the work done by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) ; Makerere University Institute of Environment & Natural Resources then ;; Uganda Wildlife Society, and more teams that delivered scientific results. AUC has been following the changes happening in the coffee – banana arc and realized increased agro-biodiversity threats due to multiple anthropogenic actions. This range from lost and reduced land spared and shared for biodiversity safeguarding areas, increased application of agrochemicals, and food insecurity for both dependant ecological communities.
What next: There seem to be tried approaches but have not arrived at the best practices that require fine-tuning for co-existence. This can best be arrived at by considering a political ecology approach to arrest its meltdown. The approach requires a thorough interlinked and exhausting analysis of the highest levels of value chains. The value chains integration of global themes i.e. mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions; Adaptation to the impacts of climate change; Conservation of natural carbon sinks with a focus on reducing emissions from land cover reduction and Biodiversity conservation respectively.
Joining CBI
Setting a tone of urgency and a need for every conservationist or people to do their part is vital to achieve and succeed. The CBI is an opportunity of support available everywhere in coffee countries, those in consumption and production. Partners are invited to join AUC in preparation of a strategic response that will highly consider the role and existence of biodiversity in coffee production around Africa.
Contact email: rkatebaka@afrucafrica.org
