It may not have crossed your mind before, but did you know that the coffee you drink every morning can have a huge impact on our feathered-friends? Over 2.5 million acres of forest has been cleared as many existing shade-grown coffee farms in Central and South America are switching their management practices to sun-grown to increase crop yield. (Robert Rice, The University of Texas at Austin, 2014). However, there is an alternative! Bird-Friendly® coffee grown in the shade under a diverse forest canopy provides a habitat for migratory birds, attracts many crucial pollinators such as bees and bats as well as improving water and soil quality while providing an equitable livelihood to local farmers.
In Canada, we now have the option to choose from a variety of different blends and brands that support forest-ecosystems and conservation through Smithsonians Certified, Shade Grown, Bird Friendly® Coffee. First established in the late 1990’s by scientists at the Smithsonian’s Migratory Bird Centre, their certification program for organic, shade-grown and equitable pay coffee plantations has expanded to 11 countries and over 5000 farms!
So how can you get your hands on some? Online retailer, and Bird Friendly City Partner, Totem Roasters – Café Avia makes it easy! By purchasing their coffee, not only will you be helping bird conservation practices across the globe but also right here in Canada. A portion of each online sale is donated to Nature Canada’s national program: Bird Friendly Cities which encourages nature lovers, municipal officials and community members to team up and ensure our cities and towns are safe havens for birds.
Café AVIA and Café Le Nichoir contain 100% certified Bird Friendly®, Organic and Fair Trade coffee – no mixing – just 100% certified coffee
Read More:
- by J. Valente, R. Bennet, C. Gomez, N. Bayly, R. Rice, P. Marra, T. Ryder, and T. Sillett, Biological Conservation, (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109568
- Combien de forêts tropicale consommez-vous? Reportage par Annalist D’orsi
Bird Friendly coffee® retailers include:
