Combining high biodiversity with high yields in tropical agroforests

Yann Clough,Teja Tscharntke,Jana Juhrbandt,Kevin Darras,Maria Weist,Damayanti Buchori,Daniele Cicuzza,Dadang Dwi Putra,Stefan Erasmi,Kathrin Stenchly,Jan Barkmann,Dominik Seidel,Stefan Vidal,Thomas Cherico Wanger,Ramadhanil Pitopang,Alam Anshary,Michael Kessler,Ingolf Steffan‐Dewenter ,Christian Schulze ,Arno Wielgoss ,Carsten K Schmidt

doi:10.1073/pnas.1016799108

Abstract

Local and landscape-scale agricultural intensification is a major driver of global biodiversity loss. Controversially discussed solutions include wildlife-friendly farming or combining high-intensity farming with land-sparing for nature. Here, we integrate biodiversity and crop productivity data for smallholder cacao in Indonesia to exemplify for tropical agroforests that there is little relationship between yield and biodiversity under current management, opening substantial opportunities for wildlife-friendly management. Species richness of trees, fungi, invertebrates, and vertebrates did not decrease with yield. Moderate shade, adequate labor, and input level can be combined with a complex habitat structure to provide high biodiversity as well as high yields. Although livelihood impacts are held up as a major obstacle for wildlife-friendly farming in the tropics, our results suggest that in some situations, agroforests can be designed to optimize both biodiversity and crop production benefits without adding pressure to convert natural habitat to farmland.

Highlights

We integrate biodiversity and crop productivity data for smallholder cacao in Indonesia to exemplify for tropical agroforests that there is little relationship between yield and biodiversity under current management, opening substantial opportunities for wildlife-friendly management
We investigate the relationship between yield and species richness along a gradient from low-intensity tropical agroforestry systems to intensively managed tree-crop plantations
Tropical agroforests have a high biological conservation potential [20], as their vegetation structure can mimic natural forest habitat, and are one of the most important tropical agricultural systems covering over 6.4 million km2 or 13% of total agricultural land [21]

Summary

Introduction

Global food provisioning is certainly central to human well-being [11], but does not capture more complex aspects, such as ecosystem resilience, overall monetary, and nonmonetary ecosystem service provision [12,13,14] In these respects, wildlife-friendly farming may outperform input-based intensified farming. The availability of empirical biodiversity/yield relationships is important for the investigation and resolution of these issues They can be used to evaluate (i) if it is possible to combine both high species diversity and high yields [16,17,18,19] and (ii) along which sections of the management intensity gradient cost-effective opportunities for wildlife-friendly farming arise, if at all [19]. Tropical agroforests have a high biological conservation potential [20], as their vegetation structure can mimic natural forest habitat, and are one of the most important tropical agricultural systems covering over 6.4 million km or 13% of total agricultural land [21]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion