Shade-grown Coffee Research Articles

The Analysis of PLOICE Model Application to Develop Science Process Skills: On the Coffee Learning Process

The STEM approach is a learning approach that is in line with learning needs to face the challenges of the 21st century. Then, the use of the STEM approach is highly recommended. It is needed an innovation to facilitate the application of the STEM approach such as integrating the STEM approach with the learning model. So, an integration of the PBL model and the STEM approach is created and then arranged which is known as the PLOICE learning model. The PLOICE learning model is a learning model that has the following syntax: Problematize, Learn, Organize, Investigate, Create, and Evaluate. In this research, students will be involved in scientific investigations on the management of shade-grown coffee to increase coffee production. Student participation in determining the management of shade-grown coffee can help develop students' science process skills. The research implemented a quasi-experiment where two classes received different treatments, namely the experimental and control classes. The experimental class received treatment using PLOICE and control using conventional treatment. In the results that the application of the PLOICE model had a significant effect on the development of students' science process skills. In implementing the PLOICE model, students are more active in discussions and questions and answers.

Embracing sustainability: Shade-grown coffee and aviane ecology

Embracing sustainability: Shade-grown coffee and aviane ecology

The abundance of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and their ecological roles as predators in Arabica coffee plantations with different densities of shade trees

Shade-grown coffee, incorporated in an agroforestry system, is a common practice of coffee plantations in Aceh Tengah Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia. Coffee is grown under the shade of a canopy of surrounding trees. Shade trees reduce excessive light and provide a home for various predatory animals, including predatory ants. Some growers plant a dense population of shade trees, while others plant less shade trees. A study to investigate the diversity of ants and their abundance in different densities of shade trees has been conducted from April until August 2023. Ants were sampled from coffee trees (arboreal ants) in two coffee plantations with dense populations of shade trees and two plantations with sparse shade trees. We found 13 ant species in both categories of plantations (combined). All ant species were found in sparsely shaded coffee plantations, and only five were recorded from densely shaded plantations. However, the abundance of ants was much higher in densely shaded plantations than in sparsely shaded plantations. The ant genera Technomyrmex and Componatus were the dominant ants found in sparsely shaded plantations, while the dominant ants in densely shaded plantations were the genera Componatus and Crematogaster. These ants are known as general predators and potentially are predators of coffee berry borer (CBB), a significant pest in the area. This research has shown how different densities of shade trees in coffee plantations affected the ant fauna, which could be used as a basis for ant conservation to increase their ecosystem service as predators.

Ecosystem services in coffee agroforestry: their potential to improve labour efficiency amongst smallholder coffee producers

This paper investigates the potential labour efficiencies and socio-cultural benefits of agroforestry for coffee smallholders practising low input production strategies. Employing both qualitative and quantitative methods, our case study of coffee smallholders in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, shows that despite managing very small holdings of coffee trees (< 500 trees), productivity is challenged by labour shortages and by very low levels of farm inputs. Constraints on labour supply include barriers to mobilising women’s labour; competition for labour from alternative livelihoods; the absence of a market in hired labour; and the time, labour and income demands of the indigenous socio-economy. The indigenous social economy draws heavily on smallholders’ time, labour and coffee income, to the extent that there is little labour for coffee garden maintenance and little coffee income invested in other farm inputs. To address these input shortfalls we explore the potential of ecosystem services from shade-grown coffee to generate labour efficiencies to partly fill some of the unmet maintenance requirements of coffee gardens and to partly fill the role of other farm inputs. Coffee extension must become more holistic and consider smallholder families’ diverse livelihoods and recognise the enduring nature of the low input production strategy, its socio-cultural value, its role in determining life quality, and thus its resistance to change. Extension must align with, rather than challenge, the low input production strategy to promote the potential labour efficiencies and benefits of agroforestry to create more resilient, sustainable and culturally-enriching coffee-based farming systems.

Effects of Land Cover and Land Use Change on Nature’s Contributions to People of the Shade-Grown Coffee Agroecosystem: An Analysis of Cumbres de Huicicila, Nayarit, Mexico

The shade-grown coffee agroecosystem is rich in ecosystem services (ES). In recent years, pests and the decrease in coffee prices have caused producers to change their agricultural activities. These changes in land use have resulted in alterations in the vegetation cover that lead to the loss of ES. The objective of this research was to analyze the effects of land cover and land use changes on the ES associated with coffee production in Cumbres de Huicicila, a coffee-growing region in western Mexico. For this purpose, we analyzed land cover and land use maps for the period 2007–2019, calculated the annual rate of change and estimated the future rate of change to 2030. We used a literature review through the SALSA method to identify and estimate the impact of the ES of coffee plantations under the approach of nature’s contributions to people. As a result, we found alterations with a decreasing trend in agroecosystem cover and loss of ES related to biodiversity. We hope that this research will serve to consolidate efforts for the conservation and sustainable use of the ES of the shade-grown coffee plantations.

ENSAMBLE ARBÓREO ASOCIADO A UN SISTEMA AGROFORESTAL DE Coffea arabica L. EN SILTEPEC, CHIAPAS, MÉXICO

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;The production of &lt;em&gt;Coffea arabica&lt;/em&gt; L. in most of the world is carried out under agroforestry systems, whose associated tree assembly provides microclimatic conditions and other benefits such as product diversification, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, increased soil fertility, and pest and disease control. Objective: to characterize the tree component and its classification by use and value in a shade-grown coffee agroforestry system in Siltepec, Chiapas. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology:&lt;/strong&gt; Five clusters were established, each with three randomly distributed sampling units, with a total of 15 sampling units with an area of 400 m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;. An inventory of the trees was carried out, classifying the associated species. Structural parameters (height, normal diameter, densities, basal area) and importance value index were estimated. &lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; 30 tree species representing 19 botanical families were found; the Fabaceae &lt;em&gt;Inga flexuosa&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Inga laurina, Inga paterno, Dyphisa americana&lt;/em&gt; were the most important. The height of the tree component reached 27 m, with a more significant number of trees for class 2 at 7 m (1743 ind. ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; [78.73%]). The diameter class from 2.5 to 10 cm (532 trees) had the highest number of individuals. The average density corresponds to 1155 ind. ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Inga flexuosa &lt;/em&gt;(chalum) the tree species with the most significant presence (510 ind. ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) with an importance value of 60.13%. The basal area obtained corresponds to 119.5 m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Inga laurina&lt;/em&gt; (caspirol) has the most significant spatial distribution (54.02 m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;). Implications: The study allows dimensioning of the importance of tree associations that occur within an agroforestry system of &lt;em&gt;Coffea arabica&lt;/em&gt; L. in soh a way that those parameters and the composition of species can be determinants of the productive capacity of each plot. The study considers the benefits of the tree component in coffee production and contributing goods and services that give greater sustainability to the agroecosystem. Conclusions: There was a high tree density, with the Fabaceae family and particularly the Inga genus being the most important in the studied area, which allows excellent benefits such as the contribution of Nitrogen, nutrient recycling, soil fertility and decreased erosion in the coffee plantations&lt;/p&gt;

The Effect of Environmental Sustainabiity and Value Chain Concept in the Context of Local Economy on Value Added of Coffee Commodities in Kerinci

This study examines the relationship between environmental sustainability, the value chain concept, and local economic development in the context of value-added commodity coffee in Kerinci, Indonesia. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, incorporating qualitative interviews with key stakeholders and quantitative surveys of coffee producers and consumers. The findings reveal that coffee producers in Kerinci have increasingly embraced sustainable practices, such as shade-grown coffee, organic farming, water conservation, and reforestation efforts. These sustainable practices contribute to environmental preservation and enhance the value chain dynamics, leading to improved market access and increased value addition for coffee producers. Moreover, the study identifies a positive correlation between sustainable practices, value chain integration, and local economic indicators, indicating that sustainable coffee production promotes local economic development in Kerinci. The study recommends strengthening support mechanisms, promoting market access and value addition, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, and enhancing policy and institutional support to further enhance the environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness of the coffee industry in Kerinci.

What sets cooperative farmers apart from non-cooperative farmers? A transaction cost economics analysis of coffee farmers in Mexico

This study investigates what factors relate to the coffee farmer’s cooperative affiliation decision and whether this decision impacts the farmer’s cash holdings. First, we propose a cooperative affiliation model based on transaction cost economics theory. There is a lack of consensus in the literature on what factors explain the farmer’s cooperative affiliation decision in the coffee sector. Overall, we find that the more specialized coffee farmers are, the more likely they will become cooperative affiliates. This is consistent with transaction cost economics predicting that cooperatives are business structures that can reduce transaction costs and safeguard specialized assets from opportunistic behavior. Specifically, logit regression models suggest that shade-grown coffee plantations, off-farm income, coffee farming experience, low-level market competition, farmland size, altitude, and private farmland are statistically related to the farmer’s decision to affiliate with cooperatives. Results on farmland size and shade-grown coffee plantations can be particularly relevant for scholars, policymakers, cooperative leaders, and extension professionals in the region. Second, based on the affiliation model, we employ propensity score matching to evaluate the impact of the farmer’s cooperative affiliation decision on cash holdings, particularly on cash shortness. It is often claimed that farmers do not affiliate with cooperatives because these organizations cannot pay them in full at harvest and coffee collection time. It is believed that cooperatives’ inability to pay farmers early increases the likelihood of farmers’ cash shortness and their need for additional financing to operate or cover household needs. However, this study finds no evidence that the affiliation decision is related to the likelihood of the farmer experiencing cash shortness around harvesting and selling time.

More trees with your coffee? Diversity and habitat associations of terrestrial medium- and large-sized mammals in shade-grown coffee plantations of the highlands of Guatemala

Agricultural practices can have detrimental impacts on biodiversity, but some studies have shown the benefits of agroforestry practices like shade-grown coffee to bird communities and, to a lesser extent, to mammal communities. To better understand whether shade-grown coffee plantations can contribute to the conservation of mammal communities, we deployed camera traps in private reserves with a matrix of shade-grown coffee plantations and forest in the highlands of Guatemala. At each reserve we estimated species richness of terrestrial medium- and large-sized mammals. We also estimated mammal relative abundance and occupancy probabilities as proxies for mammalian habitat associations and evaluated how these were affected by key landscape features (e.g., land-use type, asphalt roads, and distance to protected areas). We used hierarchical multi-species Bayesian abundance models that account for imperfect detection to estimate our parameters of interest and model the influence of landscape features on site-level species richness and species relative abundance. We detected 14 species across all reserves and found a strong influence of land use and presence of asphalt roads on mammalian relative abundances and species richness. More species used areas around the camera traps in forest than in shade-grown coffee plantations and far from asphalt roads. Our study shows that reserves with shade-grown coffee plantations can harbor terrestrial mammalian communities of conservation interest. Our results also suggest that to maintain mammalian diversity and abundances in our study area, shade-grown coffee crops should be mixed in with natural forests and the presence of asphalt roads within these should be avoided or minimized.

Low Cost and Easy to Implement Physical and Hydrological Soil Assessment of Shade-Grown Coffee in Santa Rosa, Guatemala

Coffee agroecosystems are considered to have the potential to impact soil hydrological functions positively, such as water infiltration and soil moisture retention; however, it is not clear how hydrodynamic soil properties regenerate after land-use change and what easy to implement and low-cost indicators there are. Common methodologies to assess soil hydraulic properties are time consuming and expensive. Therefore, the development of easy, robust, and inexpensive methodologies is one of the main steps in achieving a comprehensive understanding of the effects of land-use change on soil hydraulic and physical characteristics in time and space. In order to assess soil properties, we investigated the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), and two micro-climatic indicators: soil volumetric water content (VWC) and temperature above (TAL) and below soil cover (TBL) in four land-use types: a thirty-year-old shade-grown coffee (CN); a seven-year-old shade-grown coffee (CP); a one-year-old shade-grown coffee (CC) as well as a non-commercial pasture (PR), in the municipality of Nueva Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa department, Guatemala. Additionally, we conducted a visual soil assessment (VSA) elaborated on by the Catholic Relief Services for coffee soils in Central America. We used the steady version of the simplified method based on a Beerkan Infiltration run (SSBI method) to obtain Ks values after determining historical land use. The SSBI methodology is thought to be a suitable compromise between measurement reliability, applicability, simplicity, and the necessity for repeated sampling in space and time. We also counted the number of shade trees, the canopy cover, vegetation height, soil cover, diameter at breast height, and total number of shade trees. Our findings contend that CN had the highest Ks values, indicating that shade trees have a positive impact on soil hydrological properties in shade-grown coffee agroecosystems. Additionally, CP had the highest VWC content and the greatest effect of leaf litter on soil temperature, indicating a positive impact of leaf litter on microclimatic conditions and soil moisture after seven years of agroforestry coffee plantation. The visual soil assessment suggested that CN had the highest score followed by CP, corroborating the results for Ks and VWC. The selected methodologies proved to be low cost and easy to implement. To counter shortcomings of these methodologies, we recommend monitoring infiltration in tropical land-use systems at regular intervals to better understand the temporal variability of infiltration recovery and ensure robust data in time and space.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE NESTING OF THE GRAY-HEADED DOVE (LEPTOTILA PLUMBEICEPS) IN A SHADE-GROWN COFFEE PLANTATION, IN VERACRUZ, MEXICO

The Gray-headed Dove (Leptotila plumbeiceps) is a neotropical bird distributed from northeastern Mexico to eastern Colombia; its breeding biology is virtually unknown. In May 2020, we found a pair of these doves nesting in a shade-grown coffee plantation, in central-western Veracruz, Mexico. The nest was a circular plataform (20 cm in diameter), made of sticks, leaves, and artificial materials. The clutch consisted of two eggs that were incubated for 14 days, and the nestlings remaining in the nest 12 days after hatching. To our knowledge, this work is the first to study the breeding of the Gray-headed Dove. Although we evidence the plasticity of this dove by incorporating artificial materials in its nests, these can be a hazard for adults and chicks.

Cultivation, Yield, Income, and Tree Diversity in a Coffee Field in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India

In this study we analyse coffee cultivation, yield, revenue and tree diversity in coffee forest regimes in Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. The coffee growing regions in India are mainly confined to the traditional South Indian states that are Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and partly in non-traditional regions are Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. While to a smaller extent in North-Eastern states. The production of coffee has an impact on the national and international economies and is the second-most traded commodity in the world. Total area under coffee plantations in Andhra Pradesh was about 4010 ha. The Average yield of Andhra Pradesh coffee is roughly 363.9026MT per year and the average revenue is 629.158(in lakhs) per year. Deforestation and the loss of biodiversity are two effects of the expansion of coffee farming. However, shade-grown coffee has been hailed as a way to safeguard tropical biodiversity. If promoted, shade-grown coffee can help preserve some biodiversity, but it can't match a natural forest's whole range of ecological advantages. The coffee cultivated in Andhra Pradesh is mainly shade grown coffee. In this study we also focused on tree species diversity, we analysed data on tree species diversity from 20 field plots (0.1 ha) in coffee area of, Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India. We also analyse diversity indices evenness indices species richness indices and Density, frequency, basal area and IVI also calculated. Forest ecosystems can be protected against rising levels of disruption by increasing the diversity of tree species. The variety of tree species may also be directly impacted by anthropogenic disturbance.

Abundance and richness of invertebrates in shade-grown versus sun-exposed coffee home gardens in Indonesia

Complex agroforestry systems are suggested as a possible solution to reduce the effects of deforestation in the tropics while enhancing the livelihoods of local human populations. Coffee (Coffea spp.) is one of the most important commodity crops in the world that can easily be cultivated in complex agroforestry systems. Coffee agroforestry systems usually sustain higher biodiversity levels than sun-exposed fields while keeping similar levels of productivity considering the several benefits of growing coffee under a complex system. We aim to explore the richness and abundance of invertebrates in coffee home gardens in West Java, Indonesia by comparing 14 sun-exposed and 14 shade-grown gardens. We collected data in March/April 2019 via pitfall traps, pan traps, and beating tray in each field. We ran generalised linear models to assess whether the number of species and the number of individuals of insects differed between sun-exposed vs. shade-grown coffee gardens, and tested associations between main taxa. Overall, there was no difference in the richness (sun-exposed: 19.86 ± SE1.19; shade-grown: 19.71 ± SE1.19; Z-value = 0.12, p value = 0.904) and abundance (sun-exposed: 141.93 ± SE 3.18; shade-grown: 139.93 ± SE3.16; Z-value = 0.35, p value = 0.706) of invertebrates in coffee gardens, although taxa specific differences were present. Sun-exposed fields had a higher abundance of invertebrates considered as pests (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae, Ectobiidae; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Lycidae and Tenebrionidae; Diptera: Anisolabididae, Drosophilidae and Sarcophagidae). Camponotus spp. were the most dominant ants in shade-grown gardens while Dolichoderus spp. and Myrmicaria spp. were more abundant in sun-exposed gardens. Despite the fact that sun-exposed coffee fields registered higher abundance of invertebrate pests than shade-grown coffee fields, the richness of invertebrates did not substantially vary between sun-exposed and shade-grown coffee, suggesting that the matrix of gardens offers advanced ecosystem services. It is important to keep the complexity of agroforestry systems that provide key habitats for biodiversity.

Contributions of Agroforestry Systems to Food Provisioning of Peasant Households: Conflicts and Synergies in Chiapas, Mexico

Traditional agroforestry systems are widely recognized for their contributions to provisioning, support, regulation, and cultural services. However, because of the advancement of industrial agriculture and a corporative food system, peasants' food systems are rapidly undergoing transformation. We identify the contributions of four types of agroforestry systems (AFS)—shade cocoa agroforest, shade coffee agroforest, milpas and homegardens—to food provisioning in peasant families and discuss conflicts between traditional food systems and the contemporary industrial model of production and consumption confronted by peasants and semi-proletarian migrants. We carried out research in 17 peasant communities in Chiapas, Mexico, and conducted 97 semi-structured interviews and agroecological inventories with peasant families, and 15 interviews with semi-proletarian families laboring in shade-grown coffee plantations. Thirty-nine weekly food diaries were applied in two communities. We recorded 108 plant species belonging to 49 botanic families. These species play an important role as sources of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. Despite the extraordinary agrobiodiversity of peasant agroecosystems, peasant families (PF) are changing their AFS' structure, composition and functions due to the influence of agribusiness, global markets, and public policies that orient changes in production and marketing, which in turn devalue local food, agrobiodiversity, and knowledge. Changing perceptions regarding the value of “good food” vs. “food of the poor” and competition over land use between traditional and modern systems are driving changes in diet, food sources, and health of PF who are including industrialized foods in their diets, driving changes in consumption patterns and affecting human health. For semi-proletarian migrants laboring in coffee plantations, land access in and outside of the plantation and strengthening social networks could mean access to healthier and culturally appropriate foods. While peasants have historically responded to market and household needs, articulating both activities to satisfy family needs and provide income is limited. This work highlights the urgent need to acknowledge the non-monetary value of local foods, agrobiodiversity, local knowledge, community building, and the need to work towards securing land access for landless workers in Latin America.

Does Shade Impact Coffee Yield, Tree Trunk, and Soil Moisture on Coffea canephora Plantations in Mondulkiri, Cambodia?

Shade is a natural condition for coffee plants; however, unshaded plantations currently predominate in Asia. The benefits of shading increase as the environment becomes less favorable for coffee cultivation, e.g., because of climate change. It is necessary to determine the effects of shade on the yield of Coffea canephora and on the soil water availability. Therefore, three coffee plantations (of 3, 6, and 9 ha) in the province of Mondulkiri, Cambodia, were selected to evaluate the effect of shade on Coffea canephora yields, coffee bush trunk changes, and soil moisture. Our study shows that shade-grown coffee delivers the same yields as coffee that is grown without shading in terms of coffee bean weight or size (comparing average values and bean variability), the total weight of coffee fruits per coffee shrub and the total weight of 100 fruits (fresh and dry). Additionally, fruit ripeness was not influenced by shade in terms of variability nor in terms of a possible delay in ripening. There was no difference in the coffee stem diameter changes between shaded and sunny sites, although the soil moisture was shown to be higher throughout the shaded sites.

Tourism Microentrepreneurship and Land Stewardship In a Tz'utujil Mayan Coffee Community

This study examines how livelihood diversification through tourism microentrepreneurship may shape land stewardship among Mayan coffee farmers in Guatemala. Through a primarily qualitative approach assessing ecoliteracy and motivations towards environmental behaviors, data were collected among participants self-identifying as small-scale shade-grown coffee farmers involved in tourism microentrepreneurship in the community of San Juan la Laguna in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. We found that, when facilitated through cooperatives, tourism microentrepreneurship and coffee farming jointly contributed to land stewardship and provided an opportunity for indigenous farmers to foster traditional relationships with the land.

Differences in insectivore bird diets in coffee agroecosystems driven by obligate or generalist guild, shade management, season, and year.

Neotropical shade-grown coffee systems are renowned for their potential to conserve avian biodiversity. Yet, little is known about food resources consumed by insectivorous birds in these systems, the extent of resource competition between resident and migratory birds, or how management of shade trees might influence diet selection. We identified arthropods in stomach contents from obligate and generalist insectivorous birds captured in mist-nets at five coffee farms in Chiapas, Mexico between 2001–2003. Overall stomach contents from 938 individuals revealed dietary differences resulting from changes in seasons, years, and foraging guilds. Of four species sampled across all management systems, Yellow-green Vireo (Vireo flavoviridis) prey differed depending on coffee shade management, consuming more ants in shaded monoculture than polyculture systems. Diets of obligate and generalist resident insectivores were 72% dissimilar with obligate insectivores consuming more Coleoptera and Araneae, and generalist insectivores consuming more Formicidae and other Hymenoptera. This suggests that obligate insectivores target more specialized prey whereas generalist insectivores rely on less favorable, chemically-defended prey found in clumped distributions. Our dataset provides important natural history data for many Nearctic-Neotropical migrants such as Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina; N = 163), Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla; N = 69), and Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus; N = 68) and tropical residents including Red-legged Honeycreepers (Cyanerpes cyaneus; N = 70) and Rufous-capped Warblers (Basileuterus rufifrons; N = 56). With declining arthropod populations worldwide, understanding the ecological interactions between obligate and generalist avian insectivores gives researchers the tools to evaluate community stability and inform conservation efforts.

A Study of Regenerative Farming Practices and Sustainable Coffee of Ethnic Minorities Farmers in the Central Highlands of Vietnam

Coffee is highly vulnerable to climate change, thus impacting coffee-dependent livelihoods and economies. As rising temperatures continue to reduce the suitability of many historical coffee-growing regions, some farmers are practicing regenerative, organic coffee farming as a means of climate change mitigation. In the Central Highlands, the primary coffee growing region of Vietnam, conventional sun-grown, monocrop coffee requires intensive inputs, including fertilizers, pesticides and water. However, some farmers are converting their conventional sun farms to organic shade farms utilizing regenerative farming techniques for both environmental and economic reasons. This study examined regenerative farming practices and sustainable coffee in a small ethnic minority village in Lâm Ðồng province. The comparative analysis between soil samples taken from a regenerative shade-grown coffee farm and two conventional sun-grown coffee farms revealed that the soil of the regenerative farm, enriched with organic manure, is comparable to, or healthier than, the soil on the conventional farms enriched with chemical fertilizers. The results indicate that regenerative farming practices promote biodiversity; however, they also maintain microclimates that promote the growth of Roya fungus, which can decrease coffee yields. The economic analysis of farm costs and net returns found that regenerative farming practices decrease external inputs through a system of crop diversification and integrated livestock production that improves productivity and economic performance while preserving the ecological and environmental integrity of the landscape. Regenerative agriculture is an important step toward climate change adaptation and mitigation; however, in order for the farm communities in the Central Highlands to make the transition to regenerative agriculture, the success factors and benefits of this method must be demonstrated to the coffee farmers.

Households’ preferences for hydrological services in Veracruz, Mexico: The importance of outcomes vs. program design

Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) are transfer payments that incentivize natural resource owners and managers to carry out environmental conservation efforts that promote ecosystem service provision. A common issue that PES programs face is long-term financial sustainability. In the case of payments for hydrological services (PHS), this may be achieved by introducing fees in the water bill of water users and using the money to pay landowners to conserve their forests and the hydrological services they provide. However, these fees are often minuscule and chosen arbitrarily without assessing households' preferences for the outcomes and design of the programs that manage them. While programs that improve water quality and regularity are universally desired, we know less about household preferences for who administers the program and who is eligible to enroll. We design a choice experiment survey to study preferences for attributes of a PHS program in Xalapa and Coatapec, Mexico. Expectedly, both cities' residents are willing to pay more to support a PHS program that improves water quality and water quantity regulation. Trust in the municipal government in the case of Xalapa and watershed awareness in Coatepec increase the likelihood of selecting the proposed alternative PHS programs. Households in both cities are willing to pay a premium if an NGO is involved in managing the program. While residents of Xalapa prefer keeping the PHS program land eligibility restricted to forests, the residents of Coatepec are willing to pay significantly more for a program that expands land eligibility to include shade-grown coffee. Overall, the WTP for a PHS program is estimated to be 16% of the current average monthly water bill for Xalapa households and 70% of the current water bill for Coatepec households. Our findings suggest that downstream water users can serve as a viable option for financing a PHS program to conserve forestland upstream. Attention needs to be paid to differences in WTP magnitudes and the population characteristics that affect differences in WTP across cities, such as trust in the government and watershed awareness.

Shade coffee or native forest? Indicators of winter habitat quality for a long-distance migratory bird in the Colombian Andes

Neotropical migratory songbirds overwintering at mid elevations in the Andes of northern South America depend on remnants of native forest and shade-grown coffee plantations. The quality of such habitats is one of the primary ecological factors limiting survival of migratory birds during the non-breeding season. We assessed the relative quality of shade-grown coffee plantations vs. forest in the Colombian Andes as winter habitat for Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus). We hypothesized that native forest has a higher intrinsic value (i.e., food abundance) than shade-coffee plantations, as native forest was the original habitat for Swainsońs Thrush. We compared thrush physical condition, density, feather corticosterone values, and apparent annual survival as indicators of habitat quality in these two habitats. Measures of body condition and density were higher in forest than in shade-grown coffee, while survival was similar between habitats. This implies that forest had a higher carrying capacity than shade coffee and therefore had higher intrinsic value. Seasonal trends in body condition revealed a decline in the quality of forest with the onset of the dry season in early winter and an increase during late winter in line with increasing rainfall, suggesting that the timing of the rainy season likely offsets the negative effects of seasonal drought. Feather corticosterone levels were higher in forest, possibly as a result of a density-dependent stress response, however, we cannot rule out the effects of food availability or its distribution in space on stress levels. Our indicators suggested that native forest is a higher-quality winter habitat than shade-grown coffee. Our findings highlight how individual indicators of habitat quality can be misleading and emphasize the value of using multiple measures. While shade coffee is a critical habitat in the absence of native forest and its importance for the conservation of migratory birds is widely accepted, our results indicate that the conservation of native forest must be a conservation priority wherever possible.