Conservation
Protecting What Matters
Over 450 hectares of protected native forest on Tecuamburro volcano. The largest private protected forest in the region.
Conservation
Over 450 hectares of protected native forest on Tecuamburro volcano. The largest private protected forest in the region.
Over 450 hectares of native forest are formally protected in partnership with INAB, Guatemala’s National Forestry Institute — the largest private protected forest in the region.
For five generations, the Ossaye family has understood that the health of the farm depends on the health of the mountain. The forest protects the watershed, regulates the microclimate, and sustains the biodiversity that keeps the ecosystem in balance. Conservation isn’t separate from coffee production — it’s the foundation of it.
In formal partnership with INAB, Guatemala’s National Forestry Institute, Finca Argelia maintains the largest private protected forest in the region. These 450+ hectares of native forest are legally protected and actively managed to preserve their ecological integrity.
The protected forest covers the upper slopes and ridgelines of Tecuamburro, acting as a critical buffer zone that regulates water flow, prevents erosion, and maintains the cool, humid microclimate that our Bourbon coffee depends on.
Since 2023, the farm has been actively replanting 45 hectares per year with native species, rebuilding what time and previous land use had taken. This is not ornamental planting — it’s systematic restoration of the mountain’s native ecosystem.
We plant native timber and shade species that belong to this altitude and climate, restoring the forest canopy that once covered the mountain. Each year, the reforested area expands, reconnecting fragmented forest patches and creating continuous corridors of native habitat.
As part of our reforestation program, we are introducing native fruit-bearing tree species specifically chosen to attract and sustain wildlife. These trees provide food sources for birds, mammals, and insects that are native to the Tecuamburro ecosystem.
The combination of protected old-growth forest, active reforestation, and native fruit species is creating wildlife corridors that allow animals to move freely across the mountain. We’re already seeing species return to areas that had been quiet for years.
Three natural springs fed by the protected watershed sustain the farm and the surrounding community. The forest acts as a natural water filter and reservoir, absorbing rainfall and releasing it slowly through the springs that have flowed for as long as anyone can remember.
On-site water treatment ensures that all water used in coffee processing is cleaned before it returns to the environment. Protecting the watershed isn’t just environmental responsibility — it’s practical: without clean, steady water, there is no coffee.
Coffee pulp and organic waste are composted on-site and processed through our vermiculture program. The resulting fertilizer goes back into the soil, closing the nutrient cycle and reducing our dependence on external inputs.
A dedicated women’s group leads our organic pest management program. Using natural methods and careful monitoring, they protect the coffee trees without synthetic chemicals, preserving the soil biology and the surrounding ecosystem.
Our Bourbon trees grow under a mature canopy of Cedro and Gravilea. Shade growing slows cherry development for better flavor, reduces the need for irrigation, and provides habitat for birds and insects that help control pests naturally.
Hectares of Protected Forest
Hectares Replanted Per Year
Natural Springs Protected
"The remaining land tells an equally important story: over 450 hectares of native forest, formally protected — the largest private protected forest in the region. Five generations have understood that the health of the farm depends on the health of the mountain."