Rare Excelsa Coffee Renamed 'Zoka Coffee' to Aid Forest Conservation

Deep within Uganda’s Zoka Central Forest Reserve, a rare wild coffee species, known locally for generations, has finally received a formal name: Zoka Coffee. The Adjumani District Council’s resolution to identify the Excelsa coffee variety by its forest home marks a significant step for conservationists seeking to protect one of northern Uganda’s last remaining tropical forests.

The naming follows a petition from the conservation group Friends of Zoka, which has been actively combating illegal logging, charcoal burning, and agricultural encroachment within the reserve. “Naming Zoka Coffee focuses scientific attention on the forest, creates an identity that conservation can rally around, and gives local communities a direct stake in protecting what grows there,” stated Amanzuru William Leslie, team leader of Friends of Zoka.

This wild Excelsa coffee also grows naturally in Semuliki National Park, according to the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO). NARO is conducting research to develop improved varieties and provide farmers with guidance for expanding Uganda’s coffee diversity. This initiative comes at a crucial time, as scientists globally are exploring wild coffee species for traits like drought tolerance and disease resistance, which could be vital for the future of coffee cultivation amidst climate change.

There is already a burgeoning market for this unique coffee. Kyagalanyi Coffee Limited reported purchasing significant quantities in 2023 and has seen demand increase, offering higher prices for dried cherry and parchment in the 2024/25 season. Local leaders hope that the official recognition of Zoka Coffee will unlock further opportunities, including eco-tourism, geographical indication protections, and sustainable branding, thereby creating livelihoods for communities and discouraging forest destruction.

The Adjumani council has directed its technical departments, in collaboration with NARO and civil society, to formalize the naming according to national and international scientific standards. Charles Lagu, Adjumani District Agriculture Officer, described it as a “unique indigenous variety with potential for both conservation and commercial production if deliberate efforts are made to domesticate and promote it.”

This recognition not only dignifies the heritage of the Ma’adi community but also offers a new avenue for the sustainable protection of the Zoka forest ecosystem.