Lampung - WWF Indonesia - Illegal coffee production is the main threat to Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP) in south-western Sumatra. WWF investigations found coffee from inside BBSNP to be shipped around the world. On 1st and 2nd April 2009, WWF-Indonesia and partner Dana Mitra Lingkungan (DML) organized a field trip to Pardasuka’s sustainable coffee farmer group on the border of BBSNP, and held a Coffee & Conservation workshop for Robusta coffee traders and other stakeholders in Lampung, Sumatra.

The parties shared information on their activities since over 200 stakeholders passed a Lampung Declaration on Coffee & Conservation in March 2007; and discussed their next activities. Trip and workshop were attended by coffee traders IndoCafco, NedCoffee, Nestle, Noble, Olam, Pardasuka farmers, RainForest Alliance, Common Code for Coffee Commodity (4C), BioCert, the Director of BBSNP, and university and local government officials

In Pardasuka Village, visitors discussed sustainable coffee production with the local farmers and evaluatedtheir first crop of coffee beans. “Best of Lampung” was heard frequently! The DML team explained the use of The DML team explained the use of organic fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides, electricity generated by a micro-hydro plant and the environmentally friendly crop cultivation processes and quality conscious harvesting techniques that are being introduced.

In Pardasuka Village, visitors discussed sustainable coffee production with the local farmers and evaluated organic fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides, electricity generated by a micro-hydro plant and the environmentally friendly crop cultivation processes and quality conscious harvesting techniques that are being introduced.

Pardasuka Village is one of six villages in which WWF-Indonesia and DML are introducing sustainable coffee production. The villages were chosen because of their location on the border of Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park and their significance in saving BBSNP’s biodiversity. Encroachment of the park for coffee production has led to a massive loss of elephant, tiger and rhino habitat. Resulting human-elephant conflict has caused the death of many elephants and humans. WWF designed its Coffee & Conservation program in the BBSNP buffer zone to increase local income from more and better quality coffee and other commodities outside the park and improve security inside the park.

The meeting concluded on a very positive note with stakeholders believing they were on the right track to bring sustainability to the landscape’s coffee production. Indo CafCo, a company of global trader Ecom, has led the region in certified, sustainable coffee production for several years and is increasing its work with local farmer groups. Nedcoffee and Olam have now joined and the Rain Forest Alliance stated its commitment to help more farmer groups obtain coffee certification. Farmers assured participants that they would continue their efforts to produce sustainable Robusta coffee of high quality.



Contact person:

Nurchalis Fadhli, nfadhli@wwf.or.id
Desma Murni, dmurni@wwf.or.id