A farmer in Viengkham district harvests coffee cherries from her farm.

Agriculture for forests: Coffee planting helps curb deforestation in Laos

Coffee farming and environmental campaigns led by Wonders International are helping farmers in northern Laos protect forests while earning a sustainable income.
In Viengkham district of Luang Prabang province, 104 farmers have planted 46,900 coffee seedlings this year with support from Wonders International, and funded by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the KRX Happy Foundation.
Wonders International, a South Korea-based NGO, has been promoting market-based farming solutions in northern Laos since 2019 as part of its broader efforts to support sustainable livelihoods through development cooperation, including this coffee initiative.
To date, around 242,000 coffee seedlings have been distributed under the project, enabling farmers to move away from slash-and-burn farming, which has long been a driver of deforestation. Instead, coffee is grown beneath the natural forest canopy, a method that prevents forest loss, supports biodiversity, and helps restore degraded land.
A recent study by Wonders International of 93 coffee farmers in Viengkham found that those who received more training showed greater environmental awareness. The study also revealed that for every additional hectare of coffee cultivated, farmers felt 17.6 percent more connected to nature – indicating that sustainable farming is fostering both economic stability and environmental responsibility.
Local farmers say the benefits are clear.
Mr Somdee noted that if coffee continues to provide a stable income, slash-and-burn practices will gradually decline. While some poorer families still rely on rice cultivation, more are shifting towards coffee and reducing the clearing of land each year.
Another farmer, Mr Yhe Her, explained that slash-and-burn farming causes severe damage to forests, soil and the environment. He said coffee, as a long-term crop, encourages farmers to maintain permanent plots rather than clearing new land every year, helping preserve forest cover and reduce pollution.
Coffee grown sustainably in Viengkham is already reaching the market. It is sold at Aromdee Café in Luang Prabang and is gaining popularity among hotels, restaurants and cafés, providing farmers with extra motivation to protect forests.
By combining training, market access and environmental campaigns, Wonders International’s initiative is proving that coffee farming can be an effective solution to reduce deforestation and mitigate climate change. More importantly, it is helping local communities earn a stable income while nurturing a stronger sense of environmental stewardship.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update August 8, 2025)