The Muungano Cooperative has practised conservation agriculture since its origins. Bourbon arabica is cultivated in the shade of banana trees, fig trees and indigenous trees, on the fertile volcanic slopes overlooking Lake Kivu.
This agroforestry practice offers multiple advantages:
- Coffee quality: slow maturation in the shade produces denser cherries, richer in sugars and aromatic complexity.
- Biodiversity: multi-strata plantations shelter diverse fauna and flora, contributing to the conservation of the Kivu forest ecosystem.
- Carbon sequestration: shade trees capture atmospheric CO₂, making Muungano's plantations natural carbon sinks.
- Climate resilience: shading regulates soil temperature and reduces evapotranspiration, protecting crops during drought periods.
