Ecosystem-based adaptation coffee Indonesia

This policy brief examines the implementation of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) for coffee farmers in Flores, Indonesia, through the EECCLiRe project. It identifies that while climate change is causing severe disruptions—including unpredictable rainfall and extreme weather events that have significantly reduced incomes—vulnerability is compounded by soil degradation, urban expansion, and shifting social dynamics. The brief highlights a tension between traditional spiritual beliefs and scientific agricultural techniques, as well as barriers such as lack of digital infrastructure and the economic risk of income loss during crop rejuvenation. It concludes that effective adaptation requires a holistic approach that respects traditional knowledge, addresses gender and generational inequalities, and provides financial and infrastructural support.

• Climate change has caused substantial disruption to coffee production in Flores through unpredictable rainfall, warmer temperatures, and extreme weather. Delayed rainy seasons and prolonged dry spells affect coffee flowering and the health of shade trees, while unpredictable rain hinders the drying and processing of beans. Warmer temperatures have increased the prevalence of pests and diseases, leading to higher costs for chemical pesticides. Extreme events have had severe financial impacts, such as a 2017 drought in Bajawa that wiped out the harvest and a 2020 storm that reduced farmer incomes by 80%.
• Vulnerability in the region is driven by factors beyond climate change, including environmental degradation and land loss. In Ruteng, continuous cultivation has led to declining soil nutrient levels and reduced fertility. In Bajawa, a local NGO reports that productive coffee farming land has shrunk by more than half due to urban expansion, infrastructure projects, and the conversion of plantations to horticulture.
• Social and demographic shifts are undermining the capacity of farming households to adapt. Young people are increasingly seeking non-agricultural livelihoods in urban areas due to the precarious income of small-scale farming. Additionally, seasonal migration of men for work outside the community leaves women to manage farms, often overburdening them with both care work and new farm tasks.
• There is a tension between traditional knowledge and scientific practices in the implementation of EbA. While farmers value traditional ecological insights, altered weather patterns have made traditional planting and harvesting calendars less reliable. Conversely, scientific methods can clash with cultural beliefs; for example, the practice of rejuvenating coffee trees by cutting them is viewed by some as "harming the spirit of the tree," as plants are seen as living beings with emotions.
• Economic and infrastructural barriers hinder the adoption of climate-resilient practices. Rejuvenating trees can result in a two-year period without income, leading farmers to prioritize immediate economic interests over long-term benefits unless they have complementary income or cash assistance. Furthermore, a lack of smartphones and stable internet connections limits access to weather forecasts from the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) delivered via WhatsApp.
• Gender and age dynamics influence the adoption of new farming knowledge. Extension workers report that women are generally more open to new knowledge and more likely to complete training and apply new practices than men. However, men typically remain the primary decision-makers and beneficiaries of interventions. Younger farmers are more receptive to new technologies but are less likely to continue farming due to the allure of urban livelihoods.
• To reduce the risk of maladaptation, the brief argues that EbA must integrate both scientific evidence and traditional knowledge while addressing financial, cultural, and infrastructural barriers. Effective adaptation requires gender-sensitive and youth-focused approaches, investment in rural tools (such as pruning scissors), and the provision of diverse income sources to support farmers during the transition to resilient practices.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2025). Ecosystem-based adaptation coffee Indonesia. https://www.sei.org/publications/ecosystem-based-adaptation-coffee-indonesia/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Ecosystem-based adaptation coffee Indonesia. 2025. https://www.sei.org/publications/ecosystem-based-adaptation-coffee-indonesia/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Ecosystem-based adaptation coffee Indonesia |date=21 January 2025 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/ecosystem-based-adaptation-coffee-indonesia/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2025ecosystembased, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Ecosystem-based adaptation coffee Indonesia}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2025}, month = jan, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/ecosystem-based-adaptation-coffee-indonesia/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }