T ithin the expanding agricultural frontier in tropWics, one can find a variety of small, managed forest patches and traditional systems, which provide refuge for forestdwelling organisms. These habitats are frequently overlooked as potential areas biodiversity conservation (Pimentel et al. 1992). Furthermore, biology literature often refers to reserves islands sea devastation, is formed by agriculture. Although chemically intensive monocultural systems may fit well with this perception low...

In the past three decades, coffee cultivation has gained widespread attention for its crucial role in supporting local and global biodiversity. this synthetic Overview, we present newly gathered data that summarize how patterns distribution shade vegetation have changed discuss implications biodiversity, ecosystem services, livelihoods. Although overall cultivated area decreased by 8% since 1990, production agricultural intensification increased many places shifted globally, with expanding...

Abstract: Coffee agroecosystems are critical to the success of conservation efforts in Latin America because their ecological and economic importance. certification programs may offer one way protect biodiversity maintain farmer livelihoods. Established coffee fall into three distinct, but not mutually exclusive categories: organic, fair trade, shade. The results previous studies demonstrate that shade can benefit biodiversity, it remains unclear whether a farmer's participation any program...

Abstract Voluntary sustainability standards and certification offer a promising mechanism to mitigate the severe negative impacts of agricultural expansion intensification on tropical biodiversity. From conservation standpoint, agroforestry crops, especially coffee cocoa, is particular interest given potentially high biodiversity value systems substantial market penetration cocoa in recent years. Here, we review experience with certification, summarize evidence impacts, explore future needs....

Protecting biodiversity while sustaining agricultural production is one of our greatest modern challenges. The dominant conservation paradigm in tropical coffee-growing regions involves land-sharing, wherein wildlife-friendly shade trees are integrated into plantations. Meanwhile, the value land-sparing approaches that combine intensified farming with forest preservation has not been fully explored. We surveyed bird communities forests and coffee plantations Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta,...

Hemileia vastatrix caused a severe epidemic in Central America 2012-13. The gradual development of that on nearly continental scale suggests dispersal at different scales played significant role. Shade has been proposed as way reducing uredospore dispersal. effect shade (two strata: Erythrina poeppigiana below and Chloroleucon eurycyclum above) full sun H. was studied with Burkard traps relation to meteorological records. Annual daily patterns were observed, peaks capture obtained during wet...

AbstractThis article examines recent transformations of the coffee landscape northern Latin America through optic "place as process." As became most important regional export crop, its "place" evolved. Coffee lands in now embrace 3.1 million hectares, often contiguous across international borders. Like many agricultural systems, has succumbed to intensification, a process termed "technification" American setting. The result is mosaic which traditional agro‐forest system coexists with...

The Neotropical region harbors the world's most diverse terrestrial plant communities. A key component of this diversity is a range plant–animal interactions involving frugivory, nectarivory, and insectivory. Millions hectares subjected to human land-use systems contain trees that are either planted by land managers or retained from pre-existing forests. Biodiversity-conservation approaches in these often ineffective because unfounded assumption all plants provide equal benefits for...

In the United States, government-mandated growth in production of crops dedicated to biofuel (agrofuels) is predicted increase demands on existing agricultural lands, potentially threatening persistence populations grassland birds they support. We review recently published literature and datasets (1) examine ability alternative agrofuel their management regimes provide habitat for birds, (2) determine how crop placement landscapes agrofuel-related land-use change will affect (3) identify...

Abstract Land converted to coffee agriculture occupies >5 million hectares of what was once prime overwintering natural habitat in the American Neotropics for migrating birds. When tree canopy is retained or restored (i.e., shade‐grown), farms can serve as refuge wildlife. Yet few studies have examined whether identity impacts quality biodiversity. Specifically, not certain species are disproportionately important foraging insectivorous birds remains unclear. In this study, we quantified...

The coffee industry rests upon the production of a global commodity that has grown two-fold in volume and 3.5 times value since 1960s, generating process billions annual export dollars. This article discusses coffee's history as commodity, its environmental social implications. Occupying some 10 million hectares globally, millions small producers their families depend major source income. Their livelihood is threatened today by price crisis brought on overproduction. But, innovative market...

Biodiversity-friendly coffee certifications offer a viable way to protect wildlife habitat while providing financial incentive farmers. Most studies related these focus on avian requirements and it is not known whether standards also apply other wildlife, such as mammals, that inhabit the landscapes. We assessed non-volant mammalian fauna their associated in 23 sites representing forest, Bird Friendly® shade, conventional sun habitats. used Sherman trap-grids measure small mammal abundance...

Coffea arabica is a highly traded commodity worldwide, and its plantations are habitat to wide range of organisms. Coffee farmers shifting away from traditional shade coffee farms in favor sun-intensive, higher yield farms, which can impact local biodiversity. Using plant-associated microorganisms biofertilizers, particularly fungi collected forests, increase crop yields has gained traction among producers. However, the taxonomic spatial distribution many soil, nearby forests biofertilizers...

Coffee producers face a host of challenges linked to climate change, situation especially evident in much Latin America. Recent publications and the results an informal survey presented here confirm that growers now confront rising temperatures, distorted rain patterns, increased problems with pests disease – all which threaten production possibly even current coffee lands' suitability for future harvests. The industry's response has been fund promote new varieties designed contend...

Abstract Sustained pollinator services within coffee farms depend substantially on a diverse bee community. While studies have been conducted to understand the impacts of forest proximity and farm level management pollinators, few examined interaction between these two spatial scales. We surveyed communities 18 sites large organic surrounded by native in southern Costa Rica. selected 0, 50 150 m from edge shaded sparsely-shaded (sun) portions quantify influence both shade distance contiguous...