EbA-enhanced Climate Field Schools for Climate Resilience (EECCLiRe) Implemented by The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) & SU-RE.CO

About

EECCLiRe responds to the need for sustainable intensification and climate-smart coffee production in the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara (ENT) and Bali in Indonesia. Both areas are climate risk hotspots and critical coffee production areas in the country. The project integrates ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) principles in conducting climate field schools among farmers involved in producing coffee. Coffee is an essential export commodity and a lynchpin of rural livelihoods in these two provinces. Outcomes will be achieved by redesigning and integrating EbA principles, agroforestry techniques, local and traditional knowledge, and climate-smart technologies in the climate field schools being conducted by the BMKG (Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika), the Indonesian Met Bureau, and civil society actors such as su-re.co. To ensure uptake and deepen impacts of the project, EECCLiRe will integrate alternative technologies to help farmers reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of their farms through the use of biogas digesters, exploration of ecolabelling mechanisms to promote sustainable coffee production, and by assisting BMKG in developing proactive policies that improve the conduct of the field schools and expand them into other commodities. In the long term, the project will enhance the adaptive capacities and strengthen the social, environmental, and economic resilience of rural communities dependent on coffee through ecosystem-based adaptation.

Project Status

“Brewing Resilience”: Climate and Coffee Project Wraps Up with Lessons for the Future

After two years of collaboration with coffee-growing communities in Bali and East Nusa Tenggara (ENT) in Indonesia, the EbA-Enhanced Climate Field School for Climate Resilience (EECCLiRe) has successfully concluded. The project brought together scientists, government agencies, farmers, and grassroots organizations to build climate resilience through nature-based solutions tailored to local contexts.

Launched in 2023, EECCLiRe aimed to help smallholder coffee farmers adapt to the growing impacts of climate change, such as unpredictable rainfall, increased pests, and declining soil quality. Through innovative and community-driven approaches, the project introduced ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) principles and practices into the design of Indonesia’s Climate Field School (CFS).

The initiative began with a national online training for BMKG officers—Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency—on climate science, gender inclusion, and adaptation strategies. This was followed by Climate Field Schools in four villages: Wanagiri and Sukawana in Bali, and Manggarai and Bajawa in ENT. These schools provided hands-on learning for farmers, integrating agroforestry, soil sampling, and the establishment of nurseries and demonstration plots.

One of the key innovations was the introduction of biogas digesters. A total of 27 units were installed across the project sites, with 20 still active at the end of the project. Farmers quickly saw the benefits: reduced reliance on firewood, improved soil health from bio-slurry byproducts, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The digesters not only support sustainable farming but also spark interest among neighbouring farmers, showing the potential for broader community adoption.

“Using biogas has really helped us save time and reduce the need for firewood,” shared one farmer in Bajawa. “It’s easier, cleaner, and better for our crops too,” said another.

To support ongoing learning, the project developed an EbA agroforestry manual in Bahasa Indonesia and shared with field school participants. Local partners continue to distribute it to others in their communities. Agriculture extension workers were also trained to become trainers, ensuring the lessons live on beyond the project.

EECCLiRe also explored the role of eco-labelling and sustainability standards in strengthening ecosystem-based adaptation. Through focus groups and interviews with farmers and stakeholders, the project found that while ecolabels can enhance resilience, their success depends on accessible information and strong support from relevant actors.

In February 2024, EECCLiRe held a joint policy dialogue with a program on land-based mitigation in Indonesia to identify synergies, followed by a final event in October 2024 during Bali Climate and Coffee Week. These events brought together researchers, farmer groups, coffee entrepreneurs, civil society organisations, international organisations, and policymakers to reflect on what has been achieved—and what still needs to be done.

To capture and share the experience, four videos and several reels were produced. These show the journey from field schools to farmer voices, highlight biogas solutions, and share insights from policy dialogues. The stories underline both the challenges and the resilience of Indonesia’s coffee communities.

The project’s main output is a roadmap titled “Brewing Resilience: Insights on Ecosystem-based Adaptation from Indonesia’s Coffee Sector”, which outlines how EbA and climate-smart practices—like agroforestry and biogas—can be integrated into future field schools. A policy brief has assessed the outcomes of EECCLiRe while another policy brief guide adaptation and mitigation strategies for smallholder farmers.

As climate impacts intensify, EECCLiRe leaves behind practical tools, local champions, and a strong foundation for continued collaboration.