In 2024, Livelihoods initiated a significant agroforestry project in the Gayo region of Aceh Province, located in the very north of Sumatra island, which is renowned for its Arabica coffee production. This mountainous area of Sumatra is home to around 100,000 smallholder farmers who cultivate coffee on plots averaging 1 hectare. These coffee farms border the Leuser National Park, a protected area renowned for its rich rainforest biodiversity, spanning 9,500 km². However, like other regions in Indonesia, Leuser National Park faces pressures from encroachments, particularly from expanding coffee and other commodities into the forested slopes.
Effective park surveillance and law enforcement are crucial but challenging due to the park’s vast size. To ease this pressure, a key strategy is to collaborate with local communities to offer alternative income sources that do not encroach further into the park. This approach is a central goal of the Livelihoods project, developed in partnership with the Leuser Foundation, a local NGO responsible for implementing the project activities.
Reviving Coffee with shade trees and agroforestry
The project aims to promote resilient coffee models through agroforestry and sustainable agricultural practices to regenerate the soil. For decades, farmers have been advised to plant coffee in full sun or with minimal tree cover to maximize production per hectare. However, coffee is a forest plant that thrives in shaded conditions, particularly in the face of climate change. The monoculture approach has degraded soil structure, accelerating erosion and reduced organic matter, with chemical fertilizers proving costly and ineffective for restoring soil biodiversity.
Smallholder farmers increasingly recognize the need to restore favorable ecosystems for quality coffee production and to mitigate the effects of climate change, but often lack the financial resources and technical support for the transition. The Livelihoods-Leuser project plans to address these needs by planting 2 million shade trees across 10,000 hectares of coffee plots over the next five years. Besides providing shade, the diverse tree species will offer fruits, timber, and fodder, benefiting 10,000 families and generating additional income through diversification. Nitrogen-fixing species will also enhance soil fertility.
The Leuser Foundation has identified volunteers and plots for the initial planting campaign, which will commence in September, coinciding with the rainy season. Thanks to funding from the Livelihoods Carbon Fund, farmers will receive the trees at no cost but must commit to their care and the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices, such as pruning and composting. Training and coaching for farmers, with a focus on women and youth, are integral to the program.
In total, Leuser agroforestry project is expected to sequester 1.1 million tons of CO2 over 20 years and improve the livelihoods of 50,000 people. Beyond carbon sequestration, the project will continually assess its impacts on coffee productivity, biodiversity restoration, and farmer income.
About Leuser Foundation
The Leuser Foundation has identified volunteers and plots for the initial planting campaign, which will commence in September, coinciding with the rainy season. Thanks to funding from the Livelihoods Carbon Fund, farmers will receive the trees at no cost but must commit to their care and the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices, such as pruning and composting. Training and coaching for farmers, with a focus on women and youth, are integral to the program.
In total, Leuser agroforestry project is expected to sequester 1.1 million tons of CO2 over 20 years and improve the livelihoods of 50,000 people. Beyond carbon sequestration, the project will continually assess its impacts on coffee productivity, biodiversity restoration, and farmer income.