The role of coffee production in local economy and biodiversity conservation in Southern Mexico

Cesar Tejeda-Cruz

El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, located in Chiapas, Mexico, is considered one of the best preserved natural areas in Mexico. High biodiversity levels, great number of endemic species and forest quality, make of El Triunfo a conservation priority. However, El Triunfo is currently under land use pressure from local people, with the consequent reduction of primary habitats.Coffee production is the main economic activity and, at the same time, it is considered the principal threat to primary ecosystems. However, structurally complex production systems, like coffee, might play an important role for biodiversity conservation. This project aims to provide baseline information for the ongoing local efforts to promote biodiversity friendly agricultural practices. In the long term, shade coffee areas will be maintained and enlarged in order to connect biological populations between forest patches and primary forest transformation will be stopped. We expect that the results will provide local communities with new alternatives to increase their economy through fair trade markets. Background: The coffee sector provides a good opportunity for integrating conservation in the productive system. In particular, those systems that use native trees shade have been suggested to have an important role in biodiversity conservation. Its use among local peasants could strategically improve overall biodiversity conservation. Parallel to the latter, significant potential exists for biodiversity friendly coffee in the market, promoting the conservation of traditional systems by local farmers. Expected results. To produce a report that includes: i) a diagnostic perspective on social organisations decision-making with regards to the type of coffee systems currently used. ii) information on how coffee production systems affect bird diversity. iii) an account on the potential economic alternative to promote biodiversity friendly coffee in fair trade markets. iv) guidelines for coffee producers on how to mitigate negative effect and enhance coffee systems as suitable habitat for biological diversity. It is expected that the outcome of this project will be used to refine current certification criteria for biodiversity friendly coffee. Conservation gain. This project aims to provide baseline information for the ongoing local efforts to promote biodiversity friendly agricultural practices. In the long term, shade coffee areas will be maintained and enlarged in order to connect biological populations between forest patches. We expect that the results will provide local communities with new alternatives to increase their economy through fair trade markets.