The contribution of forest coffee certification program to household income and resource conservation: Empirical evidences from Southwest Ethiopia

Coffee certification programs are emerging as potential tools to improve livelihoods and contribute to environmental sustainability. However, these programs have faced criticism, particularly regarding their impact on participants' livelihoods and resource conservation. This study evaluates the...

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Main Authors: Diriba Abdeta, Alemayehu N. Ayana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Environmental and Sustainability Indicators
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266597272400237X
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author Diriba Abdeta
Alemayehu N. Ayana
author_facet Diriba Abdeta
Alemayehu N. Ayana
author_sort Diriba Abdeta
collection DOAJ
description Coffee certification programs are emerging as potential tools to improve livelihoods and contribute to environmental sustainability. However, these programs have faced criticism, particularly regarding their impact on participants' livelihoods and resource conservation. This study evaluates the performance of the Forest Coffee Certification Program (FCCP), implemented in the Belete-Gera forest area over the past ten years (2011–2022), focusing on its contributions to household income and its effects on resource conservation. Additionally, it investigates whether premium payments resulting from the certification have incentivized households to comply with FCCP objectives and requirements. Multiple data collection methods were employed, including household surveys, key informant interviews, stakeholder workshops, and desk reviews. Results indicate a substantial increase in the total sales volume of forest coffee and revenues, whereas the volumes of forest coffee supplied to the cooperatives showed decreasing trends over the past ten years. Consequently, the premium payment received from certified forest coffee export also showed a substantial decreasing trend. The current premium payment of $0.87 (46 birr) per kg is identified as the optimal incentive for compliance with FCCP requirements. The results also indicate that the certification program contributed to forest conservation by creating incentives that fostered a sense of ownership within the local community, particularly during the early stages of its implementation. The study concludes that improving price differentials and ensuring fairer premium distribution could strengthen the FCCP's impact on livelihoods and forest conservation. Moreover, the program needs to address the decreasing trend in forest coffee cooperative supplies to sustain its long-term benefits.
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spelling doaj-art-aa8ad0cf88e6421eb6dfe97bc27365aa2025-01-29T05:01:52ZengElsevierEnvironmental and Sustainability Indicators2665-97272025-02-0125100569The contribution of forest coffee certification program to household income and resource conservation: Empirical evidences from Southwest EthiopiaDiriba Abdeta0Alemayehu N. Ayana1Ethiopian Forestry Development, Jimma Center, P.O. Box 1187, Jimma, Ethiopia; Corresponding author.Ethiopian Forestry Development, P.O. Box 24536, Code 1000, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCoffee certification programs are emerging as potential tools to improve livelihoods and contribute to environmental sustainability. However, these programs have faced criticism, particularly regarding their impact on participants' livelihoods and resource conservation. This study evaluates the performance of the Forest Coffee Certification Program (FCCP), implemented in the Belete-Gera forest area over the past ten years (2011–2022), focusing on its contributions to household income and its effects on resource conservation. Additionally, it investigates whether premium payments resulting from the certification have incentivized households to comply with FCCP objectives and requirements. Multiple data collection methods were employed, including household surveys, key informant interviews, stakeholder workshops, and desk reviews. Results indicate a substantial increase in the total sales volume of forest coffee and revenues, whereas the volumes of forest coffee supplied to the cooperatives showed decreasing trends over the past ten years. Consequently, the premium payment received from certified forest coffee export also showed a substantial decreasing trend. The current premium payment of $0.87 (46 birr) per kg is identified as the optimal incentive for compliance with FCCP requirements. The results also indicate that the certification program contributed to forest conservation by creating incentives that fostered a sense of ownership within the local community, particularly during the early stages of its implementation. The study concludes that improving price differentials and ensuring fairer premium distribution could strengthen the FCCP's impact on livelihoods and forest conservation. Moreover, the program needs to address the decreasing trend in forest coffee cooperative supplies to sustain its long-term benefits.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266597272400237XForest coffee certificationForest conservationForest coffee incomePremium paymentCooperativesEthiopia
spellingShingle Diriba Abdeta
Alemayehu N. Ayana
The contribution of forest coffee certification program to household income and resource conservation: Empirical evidences from Southwest Ethiopia
Environmental and Sustainability Indicators
Forest coffee certification
Forest conservation
Forest coffee income
Premium payment
Cooperatives
Ethiopia
title The contribution of forest coffee certification program to household income and resource conservation: Empirical evidences from Southwest Ethiopia
title_full The contribution of forest coffee certification program to household income and resource conservation: Empirical evidences from Southwest Ethiopia
title_fullStr The contribution of forest coffee certification program to household income and resource conservation: Empirical evidences from Southwest Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed The contribution of forest coffee certification program to household income and resource conservation: Empirical evidences from Southwest Ethiopia
title_short The contribution of forest coffee certification program to household income and resource conservation: Empirical evidences from Southwest Ethiopia
title_sort contribution of forest coffee certification program to household income and resource conservation empirical evidences from southwest ethiopia
topic Forest coffee certification
Forest conservation
Forest coffee income
Premium payment
Cooperatives
Ethiopia
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266597272400237X
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