Bird-friendly coffee and beyond: A holistic approach to conservation in two Key Biodiversity Areas in the Dominican Republic

Port of Spain, 15 December 2023 – The Sociedad Ornitológica de la Hispaniola (SOH Conservación) is on a mission to safeguard the unique ecosystems of two Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the Dominican Republic and the livelihoods intertwined with them. Recognising that protecting nature is not just about the land but also the communities that rely on the land and that safeguarding these ecosystems extends beyond the boundaries of the protected areas themselves, SOH Conservación is taking an integrated and multi-faceted approach to working in the area.

With support from CEPF, SOH Conservación is strengthening the management of the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park and the Padre Miguel Domingo Fuerte Natural Monument (Bahoruco Oriental) KBAs, enhancing connectivity between these areas and fostering sustainable livelihoods that reinforce this vital connectivity.

SOH Conservación’s sustainable livelihoods and connectivity approach includes promoting shade-grown, bird-friendly coffee in the buffer zone corridor between the two KBAs. This is an important strategy for stopping deforestation and forest degradation and addressing climate change concerns while empowering communities economically through environmentally conscious coffee production that can fetch higher prices in international markets, particularly when certified by a recognised international scheme.

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