60% coffee species found in wild face extinction

With so much deforestation taking place around the world, wild coffee species are being impacted at an alarming rate

New research suggests that 60 per cent of the coffee species found in the wild are facing extinction, CNN reported.

Researchers at the Kew Riyal Botanic Gardens in the United Kingdom have warned that climate change, deforestation, droughts and plant diseases are putting the 'future of coffee at risk.'

"The important thing to remember is that coffee requires a forest habitat for its survival," senior researcher Aaron P Davis said, adding that "With so much deforestation going on around the world, wild coffee species are being impacted at an alarming rate."



Davis added that coffee plants grow in a very specific natural habitat, so rising temperatures and increased rainfall brought by climate change can make coffee impossible to grow in places the plants once thrived.

The scientists added that in comparison to other plants, it's more difficult and expensive to keep coffee seeds alive in storage banks. Hence focusing on saving coffee's natural environment is key.



"Considering threats from human encroachment and deforestation, some (coffee species) could be extinct in 10 to 20 years, particularly with the added influence of climate change," Davis said.

Out of 124 types of wild coffee, 75 are at risk of extinction. About 35 of the 124 species grow in areas with no conservation protections.

This story originally appeared in CNN