[Conservation Principles for Coffee Production]{.smallcaps}

[Revised Version]{.smallcaps}

[Conservation International]{.smallcaps}

[Consumer's Choice Council]{.smallcaps}

[Rainforest Alliance]{.smallcaps}

[Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center]{.smallcaps}

[Summit Foundation]{.smallcaps}

[4 April, 2001]{.smallcaps}

[Conservation Principles for Coffee Production]{.smallcaps}

[Revised Version]{.smallcaps}

[4 April, 2001]{.smallcaps}

Coffee farming is an economic mainstay in the world economy. It is the
primary source of income for millions of farmers across the tropical
world and even for entire countries, where coffee provides the primary
source of foreign exchange earnings. [Coffee production also overlaps
with many of the biologically richest regions of the world and can
contribute both to their endangerment and to their protection]{.mark}.
Given the right conditions, coffee production can be both economically
and ecologically beneficial.

However, the world coffee industry is in crisis. Current prices are
lower than the costs of production in many parts of the world, and there
is little expectation that this will change in the short term. Coffee
farmers the world over, most of whom are small-scale producers already
living in poor conditions, are experiencing a substantial decline in
their meager incomes[. In some countries, extensive areas of tropical
forest are being converted to coffee fields, compounding global
over-production and biodiversity loss]{.mark}. Chronic low prices
undermine the capacity of farmers to produce a quality product and
maintain its value, to protect their farms and natural resources, and to
sustain their very livelihoods. This situation has the potential to
become a social and environmental disaster on a world scale.

[In the last two decades, a sustainable coffee movement has emerged that
tries to create alternative market opportunities that pay farmers decent
prices, provide incentives for organic production and reward farmers for
practicing good stewardship of their natural resources]{.mark}. While
this movement has made great strides in increasing awareness of these
issues among policy makers, businesses, producers and consumers alike,
there remains an enormous gap between what a market for sustainable
coffee could provide for the world and the present conditions of the
world coffee market. The progress that has been achieved by the
sustainable coffee movement could be undone by the continued depression
of prices paid to producers.

In order to help strengthen the sustainable coffee movement, and to
promote greater clarity and opportunities for collaboration around the
specific issue of conservation in the world coffee industry, the
Consumer's Choice Council has coordinated the development of a set of
Conservation Principles for Coffee Production. Patrick Mallet of Falls
Brook Centre crafted this document in collaboration with Conservation
International, Rainforest Alliance, and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird
Center, with funding from the Summit Foundation.

These principles were developed with several goals in mind:

-   **Align coffee production with biodiversity conservation:** A clear
    and concise set of Conservation Principles for Coffee Production can
    help guide strategies to improve coffee production and conserve
    biodiversity. The Principles can also help identify where additional
    scientific information and technical solutions are needed to address
    the environmental complexities of coffee production and trade flows
    around the world.

-   **Create tools and incentives that promote and reward good
    stewardship in the coffee industry:** The Conservation Principles
    for Coffee Production can serve as a valuable reference point for
    producers, importers, exporters, roasters and consumers who are
    working to incorporate conservation into management and purchasing
    decisions. They can strengthen the market profile for responsible
    coffee through incorporation into existing certification programs,
    and so create market opportunities that acknowledge and reward good
    stewardship.

-   **Strengthen collaboration and facilitate local standards
    development:** The Conservation Principles for Coffee Production
    provide a conservation baseline for coffee production around which
    businesses, certification agencies, producer associations,
    development agencies and other interested parties may collaborate to
    address conservation issues more efficiently and with greater
    effect. They can help strengthen existing conservation initiatives
    and provide a catalyst for new initiatives, while providing a
    foundation for developing conservation standards tailored to local
    environments.

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-   **Inform planning and monitoring:** The Principles can help guide
    ecological landscape planning, environmental impact assessment, farm
    management plans, monitoring and record keeping, as well as other
    tools essential for implementing and verifying agro-ecological
    improvements in worldwide coffee production. All applications of the
    Principles should strive for transparency, accountability and
    maintain rigorous documentation to substantiate claims of
    conservation benefit.

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-   **Influence public policy and financing:** The Principles can
    influence the development of pro-conservation policies, programs and
    extension services by national governments and international
    institutions. Priorities within conservation policy should include
    effective protected area programs and environmental regulation, as
    well as avoiding incentives for conversion of coffee plantations to
    full sun cultivation or for expansion of coffee production into new
    areas at the expense of natural forest.

## Conservation Principles for Coffee Production

The following Conservation Principles for Coffee Production apply to
farms and processing facilities in all coffee-growing regions of the
world and should be the foundation of any conservation-based
certification program. They can also be used to guide the development of
industry sourcing guidelines and codes of conduct, changes in government
or financial sector policy to encourage sustainable agriculture, and
modernization of technical assistance programs. In many cases, these
Principles require collaboration between producers, communities and
local and national governments. Specific applications of these
Conservation Principles will vary by region in accordance with their
climates, ecological variables, traditions and cultures. However,
programs that aim to improve coffee production systems must at least
address and monitor progress in accordance with the following
Conservation Principles to ensure that there is a real conservation
benefit.

1.  *[Ecosystem and Wildlife Conservation:]{.smallcaps}* Coffee
    production systems maintain and enhance **biological diversity**[^1]
    and **ecosystem** functions on farms and surrounding areas.

-   There is no disturbance of intact **natural** forest.

-   Rare, **threatened or endangered species** and habitats are
    protected, including adequate measures to restrict hunting and
    commercial collection of threatened flora and fauna.

-   A **canopy cover** of diverse native tree species that provides
    effective shade and conserves local and endemic biodiversity is
    incorporated into coffee production systems.

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-   Pruning of shade trees is done with care to preserve their
    reproductive processes and to protect the habitat they provide for
    plants, animals and insects.

-   **Areas of high ecological value** located on and around coffee
    farms and producer communities, including wetlands and native
    forests, are protected.

-   Coffee farms and surrounding areas create a diverse **landscape
    mosaic** that serves as wildlife habitat and migration corridors
    between protected areas.

-   Land **restoration** programs using native species are implemented
    on areas **degraded** by unsustainable cropping, grazing or
    extractive practices.

2.  *[Soil Conservation:]{.smallcaps}* Farm management practices control
    erosion and conserve or enhance soil structure and fertility.

-   Most soil nutrients are supplied by on-farm sources, by means such
    as organic fertilizers, cover crops, mulch and compost.

-   Appropriate measures, such as contour planting, windbreaks and
    terracing, are taken to control erosion and build soil quality,
    particularly on sloped terrain or adjacent to water courses and
    wetland areas.

3.  *[Water Conservation and Protection:]{.smallcaps}* Coffee production
    systems reduce water use and prevent pollution of all water sources.

-   All existing and potential sources of contamination are managed to
    prevent pollution of water resources.

-   Vegetative **buffer zones** are in place adjacent to all water
    sources.

-   The volume of water used in wet processing and on farms is
    continually reduced through the application of more efficient
    technologies and recycling of water.

-   No alteration of the course or hydrology of streams or other surface
    water occurs.

4.  *[Energy Conservation:]{.smallcaps}* Energy is used efficiently at
    all stages of the coffee production system, and **renewable
    sources** **of energy** are used whenever possible.

-   Efforts are made to reduce the use of non-renewable energy sources
    such as petroleum-based fuels and to incorporate renewable sources
    of energy such as patio drying and other solar technologies where
    feasible.

-   Firewood comes from well-managed sources that avoid degradation of
    natural forest and that employ environmental safeguards.

5.  *[Waste Management:]{.smallcaps}* Waste is managed to minimize
    environmental impacts by applying the principles of reduction, reuse
    and recycling.

-   Measures are taken to continually reduce the overall quantity of
    waste produced on the farm.

-   All organic farm by-products and domestic waste, including coffee
    pulp and parchment, are composted and reused in the coffee
    production system.

-   Recycling of inorganic waste is encouraged. Inorganic waste that is
    not recycled, including chemicals and other toxic materials, is not
    burned and is properly managed, using landfills if available.

6.  *[Pest and Disease Management:]{.smallcaps}* Coffee production
    systems strive to eliminate all inputs of chemical pesticides,
    fungicides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers.

-   Farms are certified organic or are demonstrating increasing
    reductions in the toxicity and quantity of synthetic
    **agrochemicals** being applied, leading to the elimination of
    agrochemical use.

-   Organic management techniques are employed, including biological,
    cultural and mechanical pest and disease controls. Monitoring
    programs are in place to assist in the application of non-chemical
    preventive controls.

-   Synthetic agrochemicals are used only in extreme cases when
    necessary to avert severe crop loss and substantial **economic
    failure**.

-   No agrochemicals that are banned for agricultural use in their
    country of use, country of origin or by international agreement are
    stored or used on the farm.

-   Effective measures are taken to ensure the health and safety of farm
    workers who may handle or be exposed to agrochemicals, including the
    provision of education, protective clothing and access to adequate
    medical treatment.

-   All farm inputs are applied in a selective, targeted manner in order
    to minimize drift to neighboring fields, polluted run-off or
    groundwater contamination.

7.  *[Sustainable Livelihoods:]{.smallcaps}* Coffee production systems
    and commercialization should improve the social and economic
    livelihoods of producers and provide economic benefits to local
    communities.

-   Coffee producers are empowered to access markets and to develop
    long-term trading relationships with buyers.

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-   Equitable prices for producers, based on average costs of
    production, are a primary consideration in all commercialization
    agreements.

-   Coffee producers are encouraged to diversify their sources of income
    through the development of on-farm and/or community-based
    alternatives to coffee production.

-   Coffee producers should apply **long-term** management plans that
    guide farm production activities and that are periodically revised
    to address the environmental and social impacts of production, as
    determined by ongoing monitoring and audits.

-   Communities are directly involved, from the beginning, in a
    participatory process of management planning, monitoring and
    implementation.

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-   Co-operatives work to ensure that the basic rights and needs of
    their members are met and are committed to continual improvement
    over time.

-   Coffee farms that employ workers conform to **local laws** and
    applicable international conventions related to workers' rights and
    benefits and are in a process of continual improvement over time.

-   Wages and benefits meet or exceed the minimum required under local
    and national laws.

-   Working conditions meet or exceed applicable laws and regulations
    related to health and safety of workers.

-   Workers and their families, including seasonal workers, are provided
    with access to potable water, sanitary facilities, adequate housing,
    education and training, transportation, and health services.

-   Workers\' rights to organize and negotiate freely with their
    employers are guaranteed in accordance with local laws and
    international obligations.

Conservation Principles for Coffee Production

Glossary

**Agrochemicals:**

Synthetic substances used to control competition from other organisms
(e.g. pesticides and herbicides), and to provide crops with the
nutrients necessary to compensate for lack of soil fertility
(fertilizers).

**Areas of high ecological value:**

Those areas that possess one or more of the following attributes:

-   areas containing globally, regionally or nationally significant
    concentrations of biodiversity;

-   areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered
    **ecosystems**;

-   areas that provide basic services of nature (e.g. watershed
    protection or erosion control) in critical situations;

-   areas fundamental to meeting the basic needs of local communities
    (e.g. subsistence or health)

-   areas critical to local communities' traditional cultural identity
    (areas of significance identified in cooperation with such local
    communities).

**Biological Diversity:**

The variability among living organisms from all sources including,
*inter alia*, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the
ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity
within species, between species and of ecosystems.

**Buffer zones:**

In protecting critical ecological areas, the buffer is an area of forest
land that reduces the impacts of adjacent activities on the critical
area. In managing biosphere reserves, it is a portion or edge of a
protected area that has land-use controls that only allow activities
compatible with the objectives of the protected area.

**Canopy cover:**

The multiple storeys of foliage in a stand of trees or shrubs, in
particular the uppermost continuous layer of branches and foliage.

**Degraded land:**

Land that has suffered damage to its natural composition, structures and
functions to such an extent that the structures required for future
ecological processes are no longer present.

**Economic failure:**

In the context of this document, a substantial loss of crops resulting
in severe negative economic repercussions and potential bankruptcy to
the cooperative or farm.

**Ecosystem:**

A community of plants, animals, and their physical environments,
functioning together as an interdependent unit.

**Endangered species:**

Any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a
significant portion of its range.

**Landscape Mosaic:**

The pattern of different ages and types of ecosystems distributed across
the landscape.

**Local laws:**

Includes all legal norms given by organisms of government whose
jurisdiction is less than the national level, such as departmental and
municipal laws, as well as customary norms.

**Long-term:**

The time-scale manifested by the objectives of the management plan and
the commitment to maintain a viable ecological system. The length of
time will vary according to ecological conditions, and will be a
function of how long it takes a given ecosystem to recover its natural
structure and composition following disturbance.

**Natural:**

Areas where many of the principal characteristics and key elements of
native ecosystems such as complexity, structure and diversity are
present.

**Renewable sources of energy:**

Any resource that provides energy and is capable of indefinite renewal
on a human-based time scale.

**Restoration:**

A process of returning ecosystems or habitats to their native structure
and species composition.

**Threatened species:**

Any species that is endangered or is likely to become endangered within
the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its
range.

[^1]: ^\*^ Words in **bold** are defined in the glossary at the end of
    this document**.**