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Finca La Esmeralda enjoys a special location on two rivers in a varied landscape that connects different ecological systems and niches. Therefore, it has an enormous diversity of plants and animals. In the natural stands of our two forest areas we have recorded more than 130 tree species alone, including many endemic and endangered species. We want to protect and expand this enormous biodiversity and make it available to other fincas through our tree nursery.
We promote the renaturation of a unique natural landscape by enlarging existing forest islands, creating ecological corridors and connecting the two jungles on our farm with neighbouring forest islands. We are experimenting with ways to restore soils degraded by cattle grazing and overgrown with aggressive weeds—invasive grasses and ferns.
On the former cattle pastures we plant a huge variety of native tree species. Instead of bare grass and paddocks for animals used in meat production, you now walk through open young forest, where colourful birds, butterflies and other animals bustle about. In this way we protect and increase biodiversity in an ecologically particularly valuable, but also fragile region. The Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development has recognised this contribution by declaring our farm a “Civil Society Nature Reserve” at the end of 2022.
Arbolocos, Yarumos and Nigüitos are pioneer plants that make depleted soils inhabitable again. Other plants important for renaturation are Guamo, Vainillo, Carbonero and Chachafruto trees, which contribute to humus formation and natural fertilisation by means of bacteria in their roots that fix nitrogen from the air and pass it on via falling leaves and branches. Soil recovery through Increased organic matter improves microbial activity and supports both, forest regeneration and coffee cultivation in agroforestry.
As forest regeneration advances, water retention improves, erosion decreases and microclimate recovers. Endangered tree species such as the Cedro Negro (Andean walnut), Roble (oak) and Wax Palms, as well as various species of Caucho trees and Laurels now form a young, new forest. We find their seeds and seedlings in our forest or receive them from friendly farms and reserves as well as from other tree nurseries.
Every purchase of Café Río Lejos contributes directly to this long-term work. Coffee cultivation helps finance restoration activities, monitoring and the protection of regenerating forest areas.
Coffee grown within diverse forest systems that support life above and below ground, strengthening ecosystems and coffee quality.
Forest recovery through natural regeneration, pioneer species and long-term care.
Propagating locally adapted native species to support forest restoration on the farm and across the region.
Its enormous biodiversity and its connectivity to neighbouring forests, watercourses and different climate zones makes Finca la Esmeralda ecologically precious.
Connecting coffee production, forest protection and local livelihoods through direct relationships and long-term commitment.
Our positive results with agroforestry, where harvests and quality are constantly increasing, and the successes of ecological restoration and restoring biodiversity encourage us to pass on our experience.
