Abstract
Aim and backgroundWe present a typology of cacao agroforest systems in Colombian Amazonia. These systems had yet to be described in the literature, especially their potential in terms of biodiversity conservation. The systems studied are located in a post-conflict area, and a deforestation front in Colombian Amazonia. Cacao cropping systems are of key importance in Colombia: cacao plays a prime role in post conflict resolution, as cacao is a legal crop to replace illegal crops; cacao agroforests are expected to be a sustainable practice, promoting forest-friendly land use.Material and methodsWe worked in 50 x 2000 m2 agroforest plots, in Colombian Amazonia. A cluster analysis was used to build a typology based on 28 variables characterised in each plot, and related to diversity, composition, spatial structure and light availability for the cacao trees. We included variables related to light availability to evaluate the amount of transmitted radiation to the cacao trees in each type, and its suitability for cacao ecophysiological development.Main resultsWe identified 4 types of cacao agroforests based on differences concerning tree species diversity and the impact of canopy spatial structure on light availability for the cacao trees in the understorey. We found 127 tree species in the dataset, with some exclusive species in each type. We also found that 3 out of the 4 types identified displayed an erosion of tree species diversity. This reduction in shade tree species may have been linked to the desire to reduce shade, but we also found that all the types described were compatible with good ecophysiological development of the cacao trees.Main conclusions and prospectsCacao agroforest systems may actually be achieving biodiversity conservation goals in Colombian Amazonia. One challenging prospect will be to monitor and encourage the conservation of tree species diversity in cacao agroforest systems during the development of these cropping systems, as a form of forest-friendly management enhancing sustainable peace building in Colombia.
Highlights
Cacao is a commercial crop of great importance worldwide, with the production of 4,251 thousand tons of beans in 2016, on 9.9 million hectares and affecting the livelihoods of 40–50 million people [1]
We present a typology of agroforest systems in Colombian Amazonia
As we worked in a zone considered as a deforestation front in Colombian Amazonia, which is a post-conflict area, we set out to document the detailed characteristics of such systems, which are going to be of key importance in the future
Summary
Cacao is a commercial crop of great importance worldwide, with the production of 4,251 thousand tons of beans in 2016, on 9.9 million hectares and affecting the livelihoods of 40–50 million people [1]. Seventy percent of cacao crops are cultivated in agroforest systems, associated with trees (shades trees) and/or with annual and perennial crops [2]. In Latin America, 1.5 million hectares of cacao are cultivated, of which 70% are cultivated under shade trees in agroforest systems [2]. Cacao crops are native to Latin America, but the main production zone is Africa: the annual production in Latin America in 2016 was 777 thousand tons of beans (18.3% of world cacao production), well below cacao production in Africa (with 3,074 thousand tons of beans [1]). In Latin America, the main producers are Ecuador and Brazil (261 and 230 thousand tons of beans respectively [1]). In the other countries of Latin America, cacao production was significantly reduced with the arrival of Monilia disease or Frosty Pod Rot [3]
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