Sustainable Coffee Project Update #3
Environmental coffee initiatives have taken some major hits lately. The shut-down of USAID (which halted critical funding to many international development projects), and the constant delays that have been placed on the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (which seeks to ban all coffee imports that cause deforestation) are the most relevant examples that come to mind.
And although disappointing, these setbacks make our work on the Global Coffee Solution model even more important. We do it for the love of coffee, which includes all those involved in producing it, and we’re excited to share these most recent positive updates:
Drones in the Sky Have Led to Maps of the Ground
Our researchers have given me permission to share this real drone map, that shows one of Global Coffee Solution’s 20 pilot coffee farms with restored forest areas. (This map is used in our work and created by the drones mentioned in my previous update).
It shows the exact sizes and borders of the coffee farm (‘IOC Coffee‘) in relation to restored forest areas (‘IOC Forest’). It also shows which areas of the IOC Forest are being restored (‘Reforestation Areas’) and marks natural water systems; i.e. creeks and rivers, so that forests can be planned accordingly. (Interestingly, the Honduran Forestry law requires buffers zones of 150 meters between streams and forest regrowth).
What we’ve found most incredible is the level of detail in the imagery made possible by the DJI Mavic 3 multispectral drone. With its images and machine learning software we are even learning to differentiate shade coffee from forest, which will increase the accuracy of forest mapping and monitoring — something even satellite imagery seems unable to do yet!
Our 2023 Farmer Survey is Now Published Scientific Research
In 2023 our research teams conducted a choice experiment involving 600 coffee farmers in Honduras. The purpose of the survey was to understand farmers’ willingness to conserve natural forest on farmlands in exchange for higher coffee prices and payments from carbon credits. That research is now published in the Journal of Environmental Management.
The article highlights key findings from our study; including details about coffee farmers’ willingness to accept payments for forest conservation — which may become “a viable option for improving the sustainability of coffee production”. It found that while they would be willing to set aside some forest on their farms, coffee farmers may be reluctant to set aside large percentages of their farm for forest restoration. It also found that lower income farmers appear more averse to forest conservation, suggesting the need for insurance against revenue losses. These results, though not surprising, are useful for informing sustainability project designs that incorporate the growers’ needs and perspectives. Read the full article here.
Study: Expanding Coffee Production is the #1 Driver of Deforestation in Yoro, Honduras
The results of the Ecosystem Integrity Analysis; A recent scientific study which assesses the threats to Honduran forest habitat and water resources by scope, severity, and irreversibility, found coffee to be the primary threat to forests within the Yoro Region of Honduras. The study includes input from our project scientists, coffee farmers with deep knowledge of these regions, fellow Park Co-Managers, NGO’s, municipalities, and the Honduran Forest, Park, and Wildlife Services. It was facilitated by the USAID (US Agency for International Development) as part of their recently cancelled Climate Adaptation program for the country.
Unfortunately, due to the closure of USAID, the study results were never officially published, but the results are important since they point to expanding coffee cultivation as the primary threat to the remaining forests. Two of its findings:
- In higher elevations, expanding coffee production is the primary driver of tropical forest deforestation (900 meters and above).
- In higher elevations, expanding coffee production is also the primary threat to the degradation of watersheds; Rated equal to water contamination in its overall threat to water resources.
- In the lower elevations, humid forest, and especially dry forest, are most threatened by expanding urban development through agricultural and livestock production, due to more favorable topographic conditions and fertile soils.
Additional threats were assessed including forest fires, illegal road openings, illegal urban development, advancing agricultural frontier, cattle ranching, solid waste pollution, illegal logging, and illegal mining. A link to the Full Report can be found here.
Soil Sample Results Point to ‘Very Depleted’
The final results of the scientific analysis of a series of three soil samples started back in 2023, have revealed that the soils are “very depleted”. Unfortunately the delay of these results and any further analysis, has been put on hold due to the fact that the soil lab relied on funding from USAID, which was shut down in the summer of 2025.
We’ve Re-Submitted Legal Docs for the Yoro Biological Corridor … Again!
In July of this year, we were excited to have the Vice Minister of SERNA (Secretariat of Natural Resources and the Environment) and Secretary of Biodiversity present an opportunity to push forward on next steps for the legal process for the Yoro Biological Corridor. These include a cabinet level meeting and a presentation to Congress. Our teams responded immediately, but were dismayed to discover that the new Secretary of Biodiversity was completely unaware of the project, and were forced to re-submit the legal documents once again. (The last time we re-submitted was in 2022!)
We’re Collaborating with Indigenous Tribes to Grow Native Trees
As part of ongoing reforestation efforts our conservation team, in collaboration with members of the indigenous tribe ‘Tolupan’, local coffee cooperative (‘Cooperativa COMISUYL’), and a team of local Honduran youth, have been working to identify species and set up tree nurseries that will supply trees for restoring forest habitat on coffee farms.
The teams have also been working with Dr. David King of the US Forest Service on a weekly basis to identify which native tree species exist in the local areas. Grad students are putting together an important tropical guide on reforestation, containing a “tree strategy” for giving natural forest regeneration a head-start. The strategy provides guidance on what type of trees are best to use and most likely to succeed, as well as ensures the continued planting of endangered trees.
Helping Create the Next Generation of Conservation Scientists
One of our leading student researchers from Honduras, Ana Quiñonez, successfully defended her thesis in June of 2025 and is now a Doctor! Dr. Ana Quiñonez is the fourth person to receive a degree through the project, along with three other women and one man. Today, Ana works at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and continues making maps with our project’s team.
Ground teams are also preparing to receive and train a group of forestry students from ENACIFOR; A forest engineering school in Honduras. The forestry school is interested in collaborating with forest park co-managers, like our project developers, Mesoamerican Development Institute (MDI), in providing hands-on field research and training for students.
This is a Sustainable Coffee Story
Global Coffee Solution is the evolution of more than 25 years of sustainable coffee development history. Long and unbroken examples of science-based sustainability work of this nature are ultra rare. This particular sustainable coffee project work would not be possible without the committed group of core partners: Mesoamerican Development Institute (who are still active today), Merchants of Green Coffee (whose founder sadly passed away in June of 2024), the original Cafe Solar (‘Cooperative COMISUYL’) farmer cooperative members, and the farmers of the 20 currently operational IOC pilot coffee farms in Yoro, Honduras.
When I was first introduced to this project, I couldn’t help but be inspired by the sheer passion of these people — proven by their ability to sacrifice everything for the chance that its incredibly altruistic and gigantic undertaking could succeed and really create change. Now, I’m committed to helping however I can. Today, I’m focused on cultivating relationships and channels and that will (hopefully) fuel the final necessary evolution the project’s sustainability: The ability for it to become financially positive so that it can finance itself.
New, sustainable coffee project updates are posted whenever there are significant development to this story. Read the previous one here.
