Monitoring Wild Coffee Using Ground Survey and Satellite Observation in Community-Managed Forest in Sheko, South-West Ethiopia

Preserving wild coffee in the natural forest, especially in southwest Ethiopia, is important for maintaining the genetic diversity of Arabica coffee and sustaining coffee production. To monitor the changes in wild coffee in the natural forest, we conducted an in situ baseline survey in 2015, and 30 of those survey sites were re-visited in 2019. Those surveys involved counting the number of mature mother trees, saplings and seedlings, as well as recording details of the sites, including disturbance, accessibility and forest conditions. Satellite imagery was combined with the site-specific in situ survey data to provide evidence of the forest condition around the study sites and therefore help more fully explore the causes for the changes in the wild coffee stock. The results show that, overall, the population of mother coffee trees was maintained during the 4-year period, and a slight increase in saplings occurred. Closer examination reveals considerable variations between sites, with some equally accessible sites showing a sharp decline in the number of mother trees while others show consistent increases. This study demonstrates the importance of systematic surveys, especially for the areas where forest cover and wild coffee plants are highly variable, and this may help explore community-specific approaches in managing wild coffee in the forest.