Planting coffee for forest enrichment

 

 

The MDG-F-supported joint UN programme "Strengthening the Philippines' Institutional Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change" is encouraging the introduction of Arabica coffee (over the more traditionally-planted Robusta variety) and the transplanting of Arabica bare-rooted seedlings. Under the Forest Enrichment option of the project,  seedlings are planted beneath pine and alnus trees. Alnus trees are nitrogen-fixing trees and are helpful for the growth of coffee.This practice can promote slope stabilization and serve as a source of additional income, if not the source of main income. Farmers of coffee for forest enrichment can expect stable streams of income once the coffee trees start to mature in two to three years. 

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