Connecting coffee cultivation, nature preservation and ecological restoration
Finca La Esmeralda
Finca La Esmeralda is located in the municipality of Pijao, in the Colombian Coffee Triangle (eje cafetero) in Quindío-province. It covers approximately 15 hectares, evenly divided between coffee cultivation, pristine forest and regeneration areas.
For nearly ten years, we are living the experiment of harmonizing agriculture production with nature preservation and ecological restoration. In this time, we transformed a coffee plantation into an agroforestry cultivation, restored pasture land in a secondary forest, and connected remaining islands of virgin primary forest through ecological corridors. We registered the farm as a nature reserve, created a tree nursery for native and scarce species, helped other farms to introduce ecological methods of cultivation, and expanded our territory by purchasing Finca El Porvenir.
We do this in teamwork of our employees and external experts, who are convinced by and connected through the philosophy of this farm, harmonizing agriculture with nature, and who live it in their daily work. Last but not least, it is our coffee customers who pay us a fair price for a unique product: the organic specialty Café Río Lejos, the heart and soul of our farm and our experiment.
Agroforestry & biodiversity
Coffee grown in agroforestry cultivation makes agriculture part of a diverse ecosystem with a high grade of biodiversity.
Ecological restoration of the farm
The heavy weight of cattle and invasive pasture have degraded the soil and structure of the hillsides. Forest recovery needs special, adapted strategies.
Native tree nursery
We built a tree nursery with native species to support forest restoration on the farm and distribute species for other reforestation projects.
Registering a nature reserve
Its enormous biodiversity and its connectivity to neighbouring forests, watercourses and different climate zones makes Finca La Esmeralda ecologically precious.
Community & direct trade
As a purchaser of Café Río Lejos, you are an active part of our restoration story. With every sip of coffee, you can enjoy the harmony and success of this process.
Expanding our experience
Our positive results with agroforestry, the successes of ecological restoration and restoring biodiversity encourage us to pass on our experience.
Renaturation is a mission for us and for next generations
It takes time to recover soil from agricultural exploitation.
Cattle farming has a particularly destructive impact.
Our work focuses on creating the right conditions for forests to recover,
to recreate resilience and ecological balance.
It is fascinating to observe this process every day,
with new trees sprouting, more birds, butterflies and herbs recolonising the farm.
It takes time to recover soil from agricultural exploitation. Cattle farming has a particularly destructive impact.
Our work focuses on creating the right conditions for forests to recover, to recreate resilience and ecological balance.
It is fascinating to observe this process every day, with new trees sprouting, more birds, butterflies and herbs recolonising the farm.