This has led to what is called "sun coffee" cultivation, involving varieties that are planted densely in the sun. However, with recent changes in production and marketing strategy, there is a tendency to grow coffee in areas without shade canopy. Thus, due to altered and shrinking habitats, migratory birds especially in North and Latin America, have turned to the forest-like landscape of traditional coffee plantations for sanctuary and can support many species of birds, exceeded only in numbers in undisturbed tropical forest. The shade canopy also presents tremendous op-portunities for conservation of migratory birds. Traditional or shaded coffee plantations are considered by some as modified forest habitats, with shade trees providing shelter from adverse and intense weather to coffee plants, and promoting growth by providing quality soil through natural means. This is because in an increasingly deforested environment, coffee plantations have been known to be critical refuges protecting diverse forest species such as insects. This is where the coffee factor comes in.īirds, supposedly, can act as an indicator of how important coffee is in protecting biodiversity, according to the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Centre Fact Sheets. But over the years, the number of migratory birds are slowly declining. It is estimated that during migratory months, some 48 species can be found in Malaysia. Many parts of the country, including Taman Negara, Fraser's Hill, Kinabalu Park and Pulau Layang-layang and Kuala Gula in Perak are bird sanctuaries. Malaysia's vast rainforest is home to "more than 700 species of exotic bird-life, including some extremely rare ones," according to some sources. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, from August to April every year, Malaysia becomes a transit point for water birds from all over the world. But what have birds to do with coffee? As we know, at certain times of the year, birds migrate from one part of the world to another in search of a more favourable weather and living condition. Most do not even care to ask about the caffeine content, although generally speaking, drinking decaffeinated coffee is more health-friendly.īut now there is another question namely, is the coffee bird-friendly too? This is because some coffees and birds do not mix. Some though ridiculously priced, seem not to deter people, especially the young ones, from sampling them. Coffee, of late, has been making its present felt with the emergence of many new up-market brand names.
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