By Dowell, Agrifocus Africa July 21, 2025

In Ethiopia’s lush Ilu Ababor Zone, a multi-year conservation and coffee development initiative is demonstrating how sustainable agroforestry can simultaneously drive income and protect ecosystems. Led by UK-based NGO Farm Africa, the project supports “forest coffee” systems—coffee grown under native tree canopies—offering a compelling alternative to deforestation-driven monoculture.

Implemented from 2021 to March 2024, the program worked with 19 Participatory Forest Management Cooperatives (PFMCs) across Ale, Becho, Didu, and Mettu Zuria districts, reaching more than 4,000 farmers. The results were striking:

•  43% reduction in annual deforestation rates
•  33% increase in household income (18% inflation-adjusted)
•  Improved dietary diversity and wider adoption of energy-efficient stoves

Forest Coffee: Where Conservation Meets Commerce

At the heart of the project was a push to commercialize forest coffee. Six PFMCs secured legal status to sell coffee, enabling exports and access to specialty markets. Infrastructure development, farmer training, and microfinancing helped local producers scale operations—resulting in the sale of 168.6 metric tons of coffee, with 98.5% export-grade quality.
Notably, 44% of this coffee met specialty-grade standards, up from just 20% at the project’s inception.

Teferra Amare, Farm Africa’s project coordinator, emphasized the project’s broader implications:

“Protecting nature doesn’t have to mean sacrificing income… This integrated model offers a blueprint for forested regions facing economic and ecological challenges.”

Policy Context: Europe’s EUDR and Future Markets

This success comes as the EU’s deforestation-free regulation (EUDR) looms, affecting global coffee supply chains. Ethiopia’s forest coffee system—rooted in biodiversity and community management—aligns well with these emerging regulatory demands.

At Agrifocus Africa, we spotlight innovations that prove agriculture can regenerate ecosystems while sustaining economies. Ethiopia’s forest coffee revival is a vivid reminder that when farming works with nature, everyone benefits—from farmers to forests to future generations.