Abstract
Complex agroforestry systems can host similar biodiversity levels to adjacent continuous forests and can offer important ecosystem services for wildlife. Species inhabiting adjacent forests, as well as species that prefer agroforestry systems, can benefit from this habitat matrix. It is necessary, however, to understand the species-specific adaptability to such a complex matrix. Indonesia is a biodiversity hotspot and hosts many endemic species that are threatened with extinction. Its human population relies heavily on agriculture, meaning that finding a balance between crop productivity and biodiversity is key for the long-term sustainability of local communities and wildlife. We aim to determine the influence of the presence of shade trees and distance to the forest on the detection rates of wildlife in coffee home gardens. In West Java, Indonesia, we monitored 23 gardens between April 2018 and March 2021 via camera traps, totalling 3856 days of monitoring in shade-grown and 3338 days in sun-exposed gardens. We also collected data in the nearby montane rainforest, totalling 1183 days of monitoring. We used Generalized Additive Models to estimate the influence of shade cover and distance to the forest on the detection rates of wildlife. The Sunda leopard cat Prionailurus javanensis was found more frequently in shade-grown gardens and used both the forest and agroforest matrix. Wild boars Sus scrofa mostly occurred in gardens adjacent to the forest, while barred buttonquails Turnix suscitator were associated with gardens far (>1 km) from the forest. Several species (civets Viverricula indica and Paradoxus musangus javanicus, Horsfield’s treeshrew Tupaia javanica, Javan ferret badger Melogale orientalis, Javan mongoose Herpestes javanicus) were not influenced by shade cover and distance to the forest, suggesting they are well adapted to the agroforestry system. Still, species of high conservation importance, such as Javan leopard Panthera pardus melas, Sunda porcupine Hystrix javanica, and grizzled langur Presbytis comata, were present in the forest but not in the agroforest, suggesting that the replacement of the forest by the agroforestry matrix is still detrimental. Nevertheless, it is important to maintain the complexity of the agroforestry system and connectivity with the neighbouring continuous forest to favour the long-term sustainability of this environment and the conservation of endemic species.
Highlights
Complex agroforestry systems formed by several strata of understory crops and shade trees that are adjacent to continuous forests are the ideal form of land sharing and can host similar biodiversity levels to continuous forests [8,9]
It was present in most of the coffee gardens (82.6%) with presence not related to garden complexity or distance to the forest and higher detection rates in coffee gardens than in the forest (Tables 1 and 2)
We found that an agroforestry matrix in proximity to a continuous forest has the potential for increased biodiversity; it was used by at least ten mammal species
Summary
Tropical ecosystems host most of the global diversity and offer important ecosystem services that are beneficial to local communities [1,2]. Habitat shift to agriculture is the main threat for tropical ecosystems and will be even more impacting in the future [2,4]. The main challenge is to promote sustainable farming practices that can provide economic and social benefits to local communities and protect ecosystem services at the same time [2,5]. Two main strategies are adopted to meet the growing demand for agricultural expansion whilst reducing its effect on ecosystems: land sparing and land sharing [5,6]. Land sharing ( called wildlife-friendly farming) promotes the coexistence of crops and wildlife within the same area [7]. Complex agroforestry systems formed by several strata of understory crops and shade trees that are adjacent to continuous forests are the ideal form of land sharing and can host similar biodiversity levels to continuous forests [8,9]
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