In August 2020, I was wrapping up my master’s in Mediterranean Forestry through the Erasmus Mundus MEDFOR programme. I was eager to move from theory to practice, so I applied for a position with the EU Aid Volunteers Forests programme in Ghana.

In October, I was invited to an interview. The panel liked my profile, but at the end they asked an unexpected question: “Would you consider a placement in Vietnam instead of Ghana?” They explained that my chances to get selected would be higher there, so… I said yes. A month later, in November, I received the official confirmation of my selection. But 2021 was a year marked by a new COVID-19 surge worldwide, and the program was ultimately suspended.

Life eventually returned to something like normal. About a year later, an email arrived from France Volontaires, one of the partners in the EU Aid consortium. They asked if I was still interested in joining the programme and travelling to Vietnam, noting that it was the final year of funding — and the last opportunity to participate.

At the time, I was working on short-term research contracts at the Forest Department of the University of Lisbon (Pyrogeography Lab). I negotiated a remote arrangement for my next contract, and started packing.

On July 15, 2022, I boarded a plane to Hanoi with only a vague idea of what awaited me — and no idea yet that coffee would become the thread connecting everything.

“Coffee is not forest!”

Upon arriving in Hanoi, the details of our assignment became clear. Together with my fellow volunteers and the team at SRD Vietnam — the national NGO hosting us — we were tasked with studying the sustainability of the shift from staple crops to coffee in Northwest Vietnam, particularly its impact the forest landscape.

One of the volunteers, a Spanish colleague who had expected a project more directly focused on conservation, voiced his frustration and stated emphatically, “Coffee is not forest!”

That simple but fundamental phrase captured the dilemma at the heart of our work. A few weeks later, he left the project altogether, unable to align with its direction.

Coffee is also not (just) a drink

As I settled into the beautiful chaos of Hanoi — with its shimmering ponds, honking scooters, fragrant street food served by smiling locals always intrigued by an unfamiliar face, and the thousands of unique coffee shops tucked into every corner of the city — I began to immerse myself in the context of my new assignment.

Coffee is not just a beverage — it’s a global commodity that supports the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers. Its rising international demand continues to fuel agricultural transitions around the world. And Vietnam has rapidly emerged as the second-largest coffee producer globally second only to Brazil (USDA FAS, 2024).

While the Robusta variety dominates the lowland Central Highlands, Arabica thrives in cooler, mountainous areas above about 600 meters — such as those found in Northwest Vietnam. This makes the region — particularly Son La Province and its most productive coffee district, Thuan Chau — a compelling case study in agricultural transformation.

Traditionally reliant on subsistence farming, Thuan Chau has in recent years undergone a major shift toward coffee cultivation, which is now a key economic driver, fueled by regional policies encouraging farmers to pivot away from lower-profit crops such as upland rice, maize, and cassava. (Nghiem et al., 2020).

The rapid expansion of Arabica coffee on Northwest Vietnam’s steep slopes has come at a cost. Full-sun monoculture has driven soil erosion, nutrient loss, and declining yields. Harsh weather worsens the problem, pushing farmers toward costly chemical fertilisers — or even clearing nearby woodlands — to keep production going. These pressures underscore the need for more sustainable methods if coffee is to remain a viable livelihood while protecting the region’s fragile ecosystems. (Nguyen et al., 2020).

Agroforestry: Rethinking Coffee Cultivation

Integrating shade trees into coffee farms can improve soil health, reduce erosion, and make crops more resilient to extreme weather — especially when combined with soil conservation and organic fertilisation.

Research by World Agroforestry suggests that coffee agroforestry systems support higher tree species richness than full-sun coffee, benefiting biodiversity and diversifying income (e.g., timber, fruit, spices, intercrops). Trees can also help farmers cope with climate variability and reduce exposure to coffee price swings.

Many farmers already value trees for shade, wind protection, and soil improvement, but often lack technical guidance on species choice, management, and how shade can affect coffee quality. Training and long-term support will be essential to unlock agroforestry’s full potential (Nguyen et al., 2021).

Finally in the Field!

After spending the first two months of the volunteer programme in the office, we were finally able to leave Hanoi. In late September 2022, together with my fellow EU Aid volunteers and a few colleagues from SRD Vietnam, we headed to the mountains of Northwest Vietnam. It was time to see firsthand what was really happening on the ground.

Our mission was now clear: to investigate the recent expansion of coffee farming in Thuan Chau District and, more specifically, to document the agroforestry practices adopted by local farmers — encouraged by local government to make the product more sustainable— along with the ecosystem services these systems can provide.

Our fieldwork began in That Monoi and Bonong Villages, where we spoke with farmers about how they grow coffee, the challenges they face, and the financial trade-offs behind their decisions. We then met key local institutions: the Women’s Union of Monoi Community Center, which helps women access funds to start coffee production; Agribank, where Mr. Tuan (Head of Marketing) explained how agricultural loans work and how demand for coffee financing has grown; and the Thuan Chau Department of Natural Resources and Environment, which provided the wider policy and environmental context.

Together, these conversations — from fields to offices — gave us a clearer picture of the forces reshaping this mountainous landscape.

A shift in understanding

On the way back to Hanoi, I realized just how much my understanding of the entire situation had shifted. One thing struck me the most: the farmers we met in Thuan Chau had never actually tasted the coffee they were growing.

It was almost unbelievable. In Hanoi, coffee shops are everywhere — on every street corner, tucked into alleys, on rooftops. It feels like everyone’s dream is to open their own café. The menus are endless: egg coffee, coconut coffee, iced coffee with condensed milk, and so many more. Compared to this rich variety, even the fanciest coffee shops in Lisbon seems unimaginative. Yet, just a few hundred kilometres away, the very people growing this coffee have no idea what it tastes like.

This disconnect revealed something deeper. The driving force behind this transformation is purely economic. If the global demand for coffee — especially in Western and fast-growing urban markets — wasn’t rising so rapidly, there would be little incentive for the farmers of Thuan Chau to plant it. Their goal is simple: to move beyond subsistence and find a better way to earn a living.

And that’s when it finally clicked. I began to understand why our local partner, SRD, was so committed to this project, despite the initial resistance from the Spanish colleague, who eventually left.

Vietnam is already a coffee powerhouse — second only to Brazil — but its future lies in reaching high-value markets like the EU and the U.S. To succeed, it must meet strict sustainability standards.

This is where agroforestry becomes more than just good environmental practice. If Vietnam can demonstrate that coffee expansion in places like Thuan Chau not only avoids deforestation but can actively enhance tree cover and biodiversity, it opens doors to new markets — and new opportunities for both local communities and the landscape they depend on.

Seeing Change from Above

Back in Hanoi, I drew on my background in remote sensing. I kept wondering: could I use satellite data to visualise the landscape changes unfolding in Thuan Chau? Was there a way to zoom out and gain a broader perspective on the agricultural conversion process? What coffee expansion was actually doing to tree cover across the district?

To explore this, I turned to the Annual Tree Canopy Cover (TCC) dataset developed by the Global Land Analysis and Discovery Lab (GLAD) at the University of Maryland, in collaboration with SERVIR-Mekong. Based on Landsat imagery, the dataset provides consistent annual estimates of tree canopy cover, making it well suited for long-term change analysis.

Using Google Earth Engine, I analysed tree canopy cover data for Thuan Chau District from 2000 to 2021. The results revealed some interesting trends.

In both Son La Province and Thuan Chau District, the share of land with more than 10% tree canopy cover declined steadily from 2011 to 2015 — mirroring the boom in maize cultivation during that period. Then, in 2015, tree cover began to rebound, likely linked to a shift in land use policies promoting coffee and fruits within agroforestry system in place of low-profit staples like upland rice, maize, and cassava.

But the story wasn’t entirely positive. While overall tree canopy increased, the share of land with very dense tree cover — more than 90% — actually dropped after 2015. This suggests that some of the new crops, including coffee, may have been planted on previously forested land, raising new concerns about forest fragmentation (For a deeper dive into the data and methodology, see my earlier piece).

A simple drink with a complex web behind

The transformation of Thuan Chau District into a major coffee-producing region reflects the delicate balance between economic development and environmental sustainability. While coffee cultivation has the potential to improve incomes for smallholder farmers, the ongoing agricultural transitions and their wider environmental implications needs to be carefully monitored.

Integrating local ecological knowledge with scientific approaches, especially through agroforestry promotion, is key to ensuring the long-term sustainability of coffee production while preserving the unique landscapes of Thuan Chau and Northwest Vietnam.

Perhaps, by thoughtfully blending trees into coffee farming systems, coffee can indeed become part of the solution.

So next time you sip a cup of coffee, take a moment to reflect on what coffee truly represent in today’s world. It’s a simple drink with a complex socio-economic and environmental web behind — one that connects farmers, forests, and futures across the globe.

“Coffee Is Not Forest!” — But Can It Become Part of a Solution? was originally published in The New Climate. on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Turning Research and Data into Actionable Insights for Agriculture and Natural Resource Management in The Gambia

How can we turn vast amounts of scientific research and geospatial data — collected from research papers, satellite observations and model data stored in open platforms like Google Earth Engine (GEE), or FAO’s geospatial datasets (HIH, EarthMap) — into practical information for farmers, policymakers, and decision-makers? How can we leverage this information to effectively monitor agricultural progress and track the impact of conservation initiatives?

In The Gambia, a country of 2.5 million growing at 3.5% per year, 75% of the population relies on agriculture. Yet, the sector contributes only 24% to the GDP, struggling to provide enough food in a country where 62% of people live below the poverty line.

This is the challenge that FAO set out to address through The Gambia GeoLab, a geospatial platform that utilising GEE, to generate and transform complex data into easily understandable indicators, empowering decision-makers with critical insights to evaluate the the impact of agricultural and natural resource managemenet projects effectively.

This platform was developed in the framework of the Geospatial Technical Assistance (GTA), supporting the Resilience of Organisations for Transformative Smallholder Agriculture Project (ROOTS). Led by the Government of The Gambia and co-financed by IFAD, this project focuses on four critical areas: rice and vegetable production, mangroves and forests​ protection.

Transforming Research and Data into actionable insights

The main motivation behind of the Gambia GeoLab is to translates research and data into actionable insights. The platform compiles scientific studies and methodologies related to land use, vegetation status, soil quality, weather patterns and more specifically tailored to The Gambia’s agricultural and environmental landscape.

Using GEE, these datasets are processed into interactive indicators, making complex geospatial information easy to understand and use. The platform is structured around the four key sectors of the ROOTS Project — Rice, Gardens, Mangroves, and Forests — each represented by specific data layers.

How the GEE Apps are Designed to Generate Indicators

Each GEE app is designed to provide users with all the relevant information about a specific layer used to generate an indicator. On the left panel, users can access detailed metadata, select a region of interest, and adjust specific parameters related to monitored areas. They can also set thresholds for tracking indicators and seamlessly switch between different layers or compare the same layer across different time frames.

Once the parameters in the left panel are set, the map in the center will automatically zoom into the selected area of interest, displaying the indicator layer and highlighting areas where this exceeds or falls below or above the chosen threshold, which is critical for monitoring purposes.

On the top-right panel, the platform will automatically calculate and display the extent of affected area, along with key details such as region, specific parcel parameters, layer type, or time frame used to calculate the indicator.

For change detection, instead of a simple numerical output, users will see a histogram at the top of the right panel, visually representing stable, lost, and gained areas for the monitored parameter.

Additionally, once the indicator is generated, users can access historical time series of climatic and phenological parameters relevant to the tracked indicator. These time series can be extracted for a specific area of interest, which users can define as either a circle with a user-selected buffer or a user-drawn polygon, enabling flexible and detailed analysis.

Bridging Research and Action: Open Methodologies for Geospatial Insights

The Gambia GeoLab serves as a bridge between research and actionable insights by ensuring that the methodologies used to generate indicator layers remain open and accessible to the technical and scientific community.

This commitment to transparency and collaboration allows researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to not only understand the data but also refine and contribute to the methodologies used in generating geospatial indicators.

The left panel of each GEE app provides a detailed explanation of the methodology behind the indicators, along with direct links to the code used to generate them. By keeping these resources available, the platform fosters continuous learning, innovation, and improvement in geospatial analysis for agriculture and natural resource management.

Mapping The Gambia’s Landscape: A High-Resolution Land Cover Map Aligned with FAO international Standards

The 2023 Land Cover Map of The Gambia is one of the key outputs of FAO’s support to the ROOTS Project. It is available on the platform alongside all the necessary data and methodologies used to generate it. Users can access and generate the map in GEE, or alternatively use a code-free solution based on FAO’s Open Foris tools, which offer a user-friendly option for those unfamiliar with programming.

Nineteen land cover classes, including Paddy Rice, Irrigated Crops, Orchards, and Mangroves — the main targets of the ROOTS project — were selected by integrating definitions from the West Africa Land Cover Reference System. This ensured compatibility with broader regional frameworks while tailoring the classifications to the local context of The Gambia.

A stratified random sampling by land cover class was used for training data collection in Collect Earth Online (CEO). Sentinel-2 dry and wet season composites, Sentinel-1 texture features and spatiotemporal metrics, and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) topographic features were derived in GEE to obtain the best separability between the selected LC classes. Finally, a random forest classifier was used to convert image information into a thematic map representing the selected classes.

Rice Production: Monitoring and Optimising Gambia’s Most Vital Crop

Rice is a staple crop in The Gambia, yet production struggles to meet demand, making effective monitoring and management crucial for food security. With 4,360 hectares of rice fields across 33 active sites, rice production is the primary focus of the ROOTS Project.

The Gambia GeoLab’s Rice Monitoring section features nine specialized GEE apps that provide real-time insights into rice production within the project areas. These tools enable users to track rice extension, assess vegetation status, identify top-soil salinity issues, monitor drought conditions, detect flood or erosion risks and land suitability analysis or soil organic carbon.

Vegetable Gardens: Enhancing Productivity and Resilience

Vegetable gardens play a crucial role in the ROOTS Project, offering income opportunities and improved nutrition, particularly for women and youth. The ROOTS project manages 28 gardens across 110 hectares, supporting community-driven agriculture.

To enhance this effort, the Gambia GeoLab’s Garden Monitoring section features four specialised GEE apps that enable users to track vegetation status, assess drought impact, monitor top-soil salinity and soil organic carbon. By visualising trends and identifying risks early, farmers, extension workers, and policymakers can make informed, data-driven decisions to boost productivity and resilience.

Mangroves: Monitoring River Ecosystems and Livelihoods

With 60,000 hectares of mangroves along 5,000 km of coastline, mangroves play a crucial role in The Gambia’s natural resource resilience, providing protection against erosion, stabilizing shorelines, supporting fisheries, and acting as carbon sinks. Their conservation is a key government priority, and the Gambia GeoLab features a dedicated Mangrove Monitoring section equipped with two specialized GEE apps.

Users can analyze changes over time, detect loss, and assess newly regenerated areas using change detection tools with 10m resolution since 2020, based on the newly developed land cover map, and 30m resolution since 2000, based on a recent study by Harou et al., 2023.

Forests: Monitoring Change and Ensuring Sustainable Management

The Gambia has experienced a substantial decline in forest cover, dropping from 51.3 percent in 1975 to just 25.1 percent in 2021. Forests are essential for local communities, providing fuel wood, food, construction materials, and medicinal plants. Fuel wood alone accounts for 82 percent of the country’s biomass usage, making it the primary energy source. However, agricultural expansion and climate change continue to accelerate deforestation, raising concerns about long-term environmental sustainability.

To address this, the Gambia GeoLab features a dedicated Forest Monitoring section, tracking over 120,000 hectares of the contry forest.

The platform integrates four specialized GEE apps to monitor forest change and health. A forest change detection tool analyzes long-term trends from 2000 to 2020, highlighting deforestation and regeneration patterns. A vegetation condition index, based on Sen’s Slope analysis, tracks changes in forest status over time. The system also assesses erosion risk in forested areas, identifying vulnerable zones, and monitors drought impact, helping evaluate water stress on tree cover.

Beyond Data: An Open Space for Knowledge and Cooperative Action

The Gambia GeoLab wants to be a dynamic geospatial platform, specifically designed around The Gambia’s unique landscape and challenges, integrating publications, resources, partnerships, and references to support informed decision-making.

The Publications section provides current and future reports, offering deeper insights into the project’s scope and impact. The Resources section includes training materials and open-source tools, enabling users to familiarise themselves with FAO’s freely available tools for geospatial analysis. The Partners section highlights the collaboration between The Government of The Gambia, FAO, IFAD, and local institutions, which will play a key role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of this initiative. Finally, the References section provides all the scientific studies and technical documents, ensuring that the platform’s indicators and methodologies are grounded in the latest research.

The Gambia GeoLab initiative wants to be more than just a tool but an open space where research, policy, and practical applications come together to drive a more resilient and sustainable future for the Gambia. We invite researchers, policymakers, and organisation operating in the Gambia to explore, collaborate, and take action in this project.

By Giuseppe Baldassarre, GIS/RS Consultant @ FAO

Coffee is a critical global commodity, supporting the economies and livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers. Its growing market importance, fueled by increasing global demand, is shaping agricultural reconversion programs in many regions of the world.

In recent years, Vietnam has emerged as the second-largest coffee producer globally. Whilst Robusta is the most popular coffee variety grown in Vietnam, primarily cultivated in the lowland regions of the Central Highlands, it is mainly Arabica that thrives in mountainous areas, typically above 600 meters in elevation.

This condition can be found in Northwest Vietnam where smallholder farmers have converted large areas of annual crops to coffee, which has transformed their livelihoods from subsistence to commercial commodity dependent.

In particular, the mountainous Son La province and Thuan Chau district serve as compelling case studies of agricultural transformation and its environmental implications. Historically dependent on land for subsistence farming, Thuan Chau has experienced a significant shift from annual crops to coffee cultivation, making it a key economic driver.

Over recent decades, the expansion of Arabica coffee on sloping lands has reshaped local livelihoods, transitioning farmers from subsistence agriculture to commercial commodity production. This shift underscores both the opportunities and challenges of coffee-driven agricultural change in the region (Nghiem, et al., 2020).

Economic Growth and Environmental Challenges in Thuan Chau’s Coffee Sector

The rise of Arabica coffee production has profoundly impacted Thuan Chau district, now Vietnam’s second-largest Arabica-producing region and the highest-yielding in the country. For many smallholder farmers, this transition has provided a critical source of income, lifting them from subsistence farming to commercial commodity production. This economic shift is particularly significant in a region that was once among Vietnam’s poorest, where livelihoods have long depended on the land. However, the rapid expansion of coffee farming has come with environmental challenges.

Intensive full-sun monoculture systems, commonly adopted on the district’s sloping lands, have raised concerns about long-term sustainability. Years of monoculture agriculture have led to severe soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and declining yields. Harsh weather conditions further exacerbate soil and water loss, pushing farmers to rely on costly chemical fertilisers or encroach on nearby woodlands to sustain production. These environmental pressures highlight the need for more sustainable cultivation methods to ensure that coffee farming remains a viable livelihood while preserving the region’s fragile ecosystems (Nguyen et al., 2020).

Agroforestry for Sustainable Coffee Farming in Northwest Vietnam

Integrating shade trees with coffee improves soil health, reduces erosion, and enhances resilience to extreme weather. Soil conservation techniques and organic fertilisation further support sustainability while reducing reliance on synthetic inputs.

Research done in the region by World Agroforestry found that tree species richness is significantly higher in coffee agroforestry systems than in non-coffee plots. Shade trees not only boost sustainability but also diversify income sources, helping farmers adapt to climate change and mitigate price volatility.

While farmers recognize the benefits of trees for soil improvement, wind protection, and shade, many lack technical knowledge about their impact on coffee quality and interactions within the farm ecosystem. Expanding training and support will be key to maximizing agroforestry’s potential (Nguyen et al., 2021).

Field Study on Coffee Agroforestry in Thuan Chau

As part of the EUAV-FORESTS initiative, I had the opportunity to take part in a field study in Thuan Chau district, alongside a team coordinated by SRD-Vietnam, ESI Labs!, and France Volontaires. Our main goal was to explore how coffee has developed in recent years in Tuan Chau and specifically to document and understand the coffee agroforestry practices being implemented by farmers, along with the associated ecosystem services.

We started by meeting with farmers in different villages. Our first stop was in That Monoi Village where we inquired about their agricultural practices and financial sustainability. Then, we went to Bonong Village and met with a group of three women farmers and a representative of coffee producers. These meetings were crucial for us to get a first-hand understanding of their current practices and challenges.

Beyond farmers, we also connected with key local institutions. A meeting with the Women’s Union of Monoi Community Center provided valuable insights as the Women’s Union plays a significant role in the community, supporting women in various aspects, including financial support for starting coffee production. We discussed the development of coffee production, the role of women in it, and the support they offer.

To understand the financial aspects, we met with Mr. Tuan, the head of the marketing department at Agribank. Agribank is a key institution providing funds for agricultural activities, and Mr. Tuan explained how farmers can access credit and how the demand for coffee production loans has changed.

For a broader perspective on the development of coffee production in the district, we visited the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Tuan Chau District. This gave us a wider understanding of the environmental context and policies related to coffee farming.

Leveraging Geospatial Analysis: Mapping Coffee’s Impact on Land Use in Thuan Chau

My main duty as an EU Aid volunteer with a Remote Sensing and GIS background was to map the impact of coffee production on land use using open-source, moderate-resolution satellite imagery. We needed to understand how coffee cultivation has influenced Land Use Land Cover Change and its effects on forest cover in the region. Specifically, we aimed to estimate the total area dominated by coffee farms, where coffee bushes grow alongside other non-coffee canopy species.

To carry out this study, I adapted methodologies from previous studies by Luna (2019) and Maskell et al. (2021), integrating multispectral imagery from Copernicus Sentinel-2A MSI and Landsat 8 OLI, along with optical, SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) data, and topographic information to improve our classification accuracy.

In September 2022, colleagues from SRD collected reference points during field visits in Thuan Chau, working closely with local farmers to validate our findings. We used this data to train a machine learning model to create a land cover map, identifying coffee-growing areas using the selected methodologies.

Our findings provided valuable insights into the spatial distribution of coffee plantations and their role in land transformation, helping to inform future discussions on sustainable land management in the region. (Find the full technical report here).

Trends in Tree Canopy Cover: Valuable Insights into Land Use Changes in Thuan Chau

Annual tree canopy cover (TCC) is a product developed by the Global Land Analysis and DiscoveryLab (GLAD) from University of Maryland and SERVIR-Mekong. The goal is to provide regionally consistent timely updates on land cover change at the national and regional scales. Using this dataset, I produced an analysis of the tree canopy cover from 2000 to 2021 in Thuan Chau District. (Find the GEE code here).

In the top section of the figure below, we see that the percentage of total area covered by trees with more than 10% canopy cover declined until 2015, then increased until 2021 in both Son La and Thuan Chau. This trend aligns with findings from Huyen et al. (2021), which document a rise in maize cultivation from the late 1990s, peaking in 2012. However, due to land degradation (soil erosion, chemical pollution), crop losses (drought in 2012), and economic challenges (rising production costs, declining maize prices, and competition from imported maize), the province launched a policy in 2016 to transition from low-profit crops like upland rice, maize, and cassava to fruit and industrial crops.

The figure illustrates two key dimensions: TCC classes over time and crop area dynamics Huyen et al. (2021). The percentage of land with more than 10% canopy cover declined until around 2015, followed by a noticeable increase up to 2021. This shift coincides with policy changes introduced in 2016 to move away from low-profit crops such as upland rice, maize, and cassava.

Maize cultivation (blue line) increased steadily until 2012, aligning with the period of declining TCC >10%. After 2012, maize area began to shrink while fruit tree plantations (pink line) expanded rapidly starting from 2015. This inverse trend suggests that the growth in fruit crops may be contributing to the recovery of moderate canopy cover.

Interestingly, while overall canopy cover improved after 2015, the percentage of land with very dense tree cover (>90% TCC) decreased, hinting at potential encroachment into previously forested areas for new agricultural use.

This analysis emphasizes the complex relationship between crop conversion policies and tree cover dynamics, highlighting both progress in re-greening efforts and risks to high-density forests. (Find the full technical report here.)

Coffee Expansion and Environmental Sustainability in Thuan Chau

The transformation of Thuan Chau District into a major coffee-producing region highlights the delicate balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability in Northwest Vietnam. While coffee cultivation has provided significant economic benefits to smallholder farmers, it has also impacted land use and ecosystems, requiring careful monitoring and sustainable practices.

The use of remote sensing technologies and machine learning has provided valuable insights into these changes, though challenges remain in accurately mapping complex agroforestry systems. Trends in tree canopy cover further illustrate the ongoing agricultural transitions and their wider environmental implications, reinforcing the need for continued research and informed land management strategies.

Integrating local ecological knowledge with scientific approaches, particularly in agroforestry promotion, is key to ensuring the long-term sustainability of coffee production while preserving the unique landscapes of Thuan Chau and Northwest Vietnam.

References

Global Land Analysis and Discovery Lab (GLAD) & SERVIR-Mekong. (2017). Vietnam national data description. University of Maryland. https://glad.umd.edu/sites/default/files/Vietnam_National_Data_Description.pdf

Le Thi Thanh Huyen, Hoang Thanh Tung, Dinh Khanh Thuy, Trong Hieu Do, Le Khai Hoan, Pham Cong Nghiep, Pham Thi Hanh Tho, Hoang Minh Huy, Nguyen Ngoc Mai, Clémence de Villers, Mélanie Blanchard, & Pascal Lienhard. (2021). Potential of Son La Province as flagship site for agroecology and safe food system transitions in Vietnam. Scoping study report, Agroecology and Safe Food System Transitions (ASSET) project, Hanoi, Vietnam, 37 p. Full report

Maskell, G., Chemura, A., Nguyen, H., Gornott, C., & Mondal, P. (2021). Integration of Sentinel optical and radar data for mapping smallholder coffee production systems in Vietnam. Remote Sensing of Environment, 266, 112709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2021.112709

Nghiem, T., Kono, Y., & Leisz, S. J. (2020). Crop boom as a trigger of smallholder livelihood and land use transformations: The case of coffee production in the northern mountain region of Vietnam. Land, 9(56). https://doi.org/10.3390/land9020056

Nguyen, M. P., Pagella, T., Catacutan, D. C., Nguyen, T. Q., & Sinclair, F. (2021). Adoption of agroforestry in Northwest Viet Nam: What roles do social and cultural norms play? Forests, 12(493). https://doi.org/10.3390/f12040493

Sanchez-Luna, M. M., & McCarty, J. L. (2018). Promises and limitations of geospatial data and science to study smallholder indigenous agricultural communities: A case study of coffee and greenhouses in the Chiapas Highlands. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2018, GC51G-0877. Available via SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System