The report shows that the rapid expansion of Robusta coffee production in Vietnam’s Central Highlands over recent decades has been a major driver of natural forest loss, reducing forest cover in the region from over 42% in 1990 to just 19% by 2020. Deforestation and large-scale monoculture have caused serious environmental impacts, including soil erosion, groundwater depletion, rising fertilizer costs, increased rural poverty, and a higher risk of child labor. With climate change projected to make half of the current Robusta-growing area unsuitable in the future, the report urgently calls on governments and multinational corporations to invest in land restoration, promote agroforestry, and improve supply chain transparency to safeguard farmers’ livelihoods and ecosystem sustainability.
