Farmers on the Indonesian island of Flores have, for generations, practiced sustainable agroforestry, producing coffee while maintaining the forest.

The Arabica Flores Bajawa (AFB) coffee produced by the farmers of Flores is sold in the U.S. and Europe and its popularity is increasing. In addition to shade-grown coffee, the farmers grow vanilla, chocolate and vegetables throughout the forest.

An article on Mongabay.com outlines the difficulties faced by these farmers over the years, including land use restrictions that created uncertainty about which areas could be cultivated and which drove many out of the forest.

With the establishment of the Community Association of Watu Ata (Permata), local people have been able to negotiate access to the forest and have worked with local NGOs to establish conservation management strategies that incorporate the needs of local people with the preservation of the forest.

Read the full story: Coffee farmers help protect Flores forest