How we at Slow are building a better future for humans.
Slow Forest Protection Program
The key to producing high-quality coffee beans is not just the location where the coffee grows but also the environment surrounding the coffee trees. Coffee trees in Laos are naturally grown in small lots owned by the coffee farmers. The naturally occurring trees have protected and contributed to the quality of the coffee in the area. Coffee beans harvested by Slow farmers are free from toxic chemicals. Slow forest’s towering trees are the first line of protection of the coffee trees. It also attracts various animals and insects that help keep the biodiversity at a healthy level—having diverse wildlife present in the area aids in the successful growth of coffee trees. To continuously produce quality coffee, Slow pledge to maintain, improve, and preserve the forest. We believe in the crucial role played by the forest not only in growing coffee but also in the lives of the farmers we work with.
Tree Inventory Method
Slow’s commitment to helping and supporting the farmers translates to our vision of protecting and conserving the forest as well. To be able to strive towards our aims of regenerating and preserving trees and forests, we must understand and are aware of the current stage. For this, we ask for the help of Sanni Torniainen, a Tropical Forest Ecology major from the University of Helsinki. She is currently conducting a tree inventory in all our 37 farmers’ coffee farms. The inventory will provide valuable information on the condition and diversity of the trees growing in the coffee-agroforestry systems, where the trees grow in the upper strata, shading the coffee plants. Data will be gathered about the number of trees in each farm, tree species, size, canopy cover, and the overall condition of the forests.
Our baseline will help ensure that we keep moving in the right direction. That means using data to measure our progress, spot unforeseen developments, and help us accurately diagnose what actions are most beneficial to take and in which order. Using this data, we can create a sustainable plan to conserve and protect Slow Forest and help to regenerate other forests in the future. The data from the tree inventory will also help us to understand better what potential crop-bearing trees may be planted alongside the coffee to help generate future income for the farmers.
