Nicaragua - El Jaguar - Direct Trade

A family coffee estate in Jinotega that produces specialty coffee to support the conservation of nature and the surrounding communities. Georges Duriaux and Liliana Chavarría are two conservationists, bird researchers and coffee lovers who started El Jaguar Coffee Farm in the early 1990's in order to use a nature-friendly agriculture that could support the conservation of the surrounding forest. They have about 50 ha of RFA agroforestry coffee at an elevation of 1300 to 1350 masl, and about 110ha of cloudforest under conservation.

The whole farm is legalised by the Nicaraguan government as a Private Wildlife Reserve (Reserva Silvestre Privada), recognised by Birdlife International as a global Important Bird Area, the top hotspot for bird observations in the country. There are over 375 bird species (48% of Nicaraguan species), along with an important research centre for birds. Gerges Duriaux and Liliana Chavarria also support the nearby communities with environmental education and reforestation projects.

This is our second year working with this direct-trade connection and we're very proud to support such hard-working individuals and families with a trust drive for preserving the ecological environment in which they farm.