If you buy any amount of coffee, you may have come across the Bird Friendly logo and wondered: "What is 'bird friendly' coffee and why should I care?"
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Evolution of the Bird Friendly logo. Smithsonian |
Bird Friendly is a certification developed by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center to help preserve habitat and protect many species of migratory songbirds. Some species, such as the Black-and-white Warbler and Common Yellowthroat often winter on plantations throughout the coffee bean belt but migrate to Newfoundland every summer where they can be observed across the island.
Coffee stamped with the Bird Friendly seal of approval is USDA-certified organic and grown in agroforests where trees and shrubs are grown alongside coffee plants to create numerous ecological benefits and promote plant species diversity.
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Black-and-white Warbler by John Alexander Goulds, NL |
This designation also adds a number of other standards for canopy height, foliage cover, buffer zones along waterways, and more; all of which are critical for birds and other wildlife to thrive on these plantations.
Over 2.5 million acres of forest have been cleared to make way for sun-grown coffee, a farming practice that actively destroys habitat, leaving no place for birds to winter. By switching to Bird Friendly certified coffee, we can combat deforestation and support the 5,100 farmers across 11 countries who protect and maintain the habitat of birds such as the Black-and-white Warbler and Common Yellowthroat.
If you would like to try Bird Friendly coffee and support local conservation initiatives while you're at it, you can do so by purchasing Nature NL co-branded coffee beans from Totem Roasters right here.
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