More than half of world’s wild coffee species at risk of extinction: report

More than half of the world’s wild coffee species are at risk of extinction from climate change and deforestation, according to new research published Wednesday.

Experts at Britain’s Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew found that out over 60 percent of the 124 varieties of wild coffee are in danger.

{mosads}”The increasing severity of pests and diseases, the loss of suitable space to grow coffee and climate change are all having their impact, putting increasing pressure on coffee farmers,” Aaron Davis, head of coffee research at Kew, said.

Still, Davis noted that the dire projections are not concerning for coffee drinkers.

“There are many countries which depend on coffee for the … bulk of their export earnings,” he explained. “It’s estimated there are 100 million people producing coffee in farms around the world.”

That is especially true for Ethiopia, Africa’s largest coffee exporter. Roughly 15 million Ethiopians are involved in production and annual exports have an estimated value of a $1 billion, according to Reuters.

Davis highlighted the Yayu Forest Project which works to preserve coffee species in the country. However, based on the research current efforts will be insufficient.

“Other carefully devised initiatives and interventions might be employed to conserve other coffee species, but overall we need to improve our conservation efforts,” Davis said. “This also extends to all of our wild plant species, and especially those that play a critical role in sustaining the future of our planet and the wellbeing of its inhabitants.”