KAFFA, THE BIRTHPLACE OF COFFEE
The Kaffa Afromontane rainforest in Southern Ethiopia is recognised as the birthplace of Coffea arabica, the only coffee plant to grow wild - in Ethiopia. Protected by steep mountains, wide rivers and fabulous forests, the wild coffee plants thrived here for centuries, providing the precious beans to the people living in the area. Current population growth compounded by increasing poverty levels has led to a rapid deforestation: people are forced to convert the forests to farmland or sell them to foreign investors. The rainforest, which previously covered more than 30% of Ethiopia, now stands at a mere 3%. To save this land and the people, German organizations like NABU, GTZ, "GEO-Schützt den Regenwald" and several other partners are running a Public-Private Partnership conservation and development project in the Kaffa Province, contributing to improving the livelihoods of coffee producers and to developing sustainable production and marketing to international quality standards. Moreover, in 2010 a first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for Ethiopia has been designed in the area.
As one of the last evergreen coffee forests of Ethiopia, the Kaffa Zone is regarded as a site of international importance and hosts a unique and very rich biodiversity.
The Kaffa Afromontane rainforest in Southern Ethiopia is recognised as the birthplace of Coffea arabica, the only coffee plant to grow wild - in Ethiopia. Protected by steep mountains, wide rivers and fabulous forests, the wild coffee plants thrived here for centuries, providing the precious beans to the people living in the area. Current population growth compounded by increasing poverty levels has led to a rapid deforestation: people are forced to convert the forests to farmland or sell them to foreign investors. The rainforest, which previously covered more than 30% of Ethiopia, now stands at a mere 3%. To save this land and the people, German organizations like NABU, GTZ, "GEO-Schützt den Regenwald" and several other partners are running a Public-Private Partnership conservation and development project in the Kaffa Province, contributing to improving the livelihoods of coffee producers and to developing sustainable production and marketing to international quality standards. Moreover, in 2010 a first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for Ethiopia has been designed in the area.
As one of the last evergreen coffee forests of Ethiopia, the Kaffa Zone is regarded as a site of international importance and hosts a unique and very rich biodiversity.
KAFFA, THE BIRTHPLACE OF COFFEE
The Kaffa Afromontane rainforest in Southern Ethiopia is recognised as the birthplace of Coffea arabica, the only coffee plant to grow wild - in Ethiopia. Protected by steep mountains, wide rivers and fabulous forests, the wild coffee plants thrived here for centuries, providing the precious beans to the people living in the area. Current population growth compounded by increasing poverty levels has led to a rapid deforestation: people are forced to convert the forests to farmland or sell them to foreign investors. The rainforest, which previously covered more than 30% of Ethiopia, now stands at a mere 3%. To save this land and the people, German organizations like NABU, GTZ, "GEO-Schützt den Regenwald" and several other partners are running a Public-Private Partnership conservation and development project in the Kaffa Province, contributing to improving the livelihoods of coffee producers and to developing sustainable production and marketing to international quality standards. Moreover, in 2010 a first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for Ethiopia has been designed in the area.
As one of the last evergreen coffee forests of Ethiopia, the Kaffa Zone is regarded as a site of international importance and hosts a unique and very rich biodiversity.
The Kaffa Afromontane rainforest in Southern Ethiopia is recognised as the birthplace of Coffea arabica, the only coffee plant to grow wild - in Ethiopia. Protected by steep mountains, wide rivers and fabulous forests, the wild coffee plants thrived here for centuries, providing the precious beans to the people living in the area. Current population growth compounded by increasing poverty levels has led to a rapid deforestation: people are forced to convert the forests to farmland or sell them to foreign investors. The rainforest, which previously covered more than 30% of Ethiopia, now stands at a mere 3%. To save this land and the people, German organizations like NABU, GTZ, "GEO-Schützt den Regenwald" and several other partners are running a Public-Private Partnership conservation and development project in the Kaffa Province, contributing to improving the livelihoods of coffee producers and to developing sustainable production and marketing to international quality standards. Moreover, in 2010 a first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for Ethiopia has been designed in the area.
As one of the last evergreen coffee forests of Ethiopia, the Kaffa Zone is regarded as a site of international importance and hosts a unique and very rich biodiversity.
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