the role of coffee agroforestry in the conservation of forest tree diversity and community...

The role of coffee agroforestry in the conservation of tree diversity and community composition of

native forests in a Biosphere Reserve

Vivian ValenciaPhD Candidate/ Faculty Fellow

Columbia University vv2188@columbia.edu

Vivian Valencia a*, Luis García-Barrios b, Paige West c, Eleanor Sterling d, Shahid Naeema

a Dept. of Ecology, Evolution, and Environ. Biology, Columbia University, New York, USA b El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Chiapas, Mexicoc Dept. of Anthropology, Columbia University, New York, USAd American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA

Diversity

Background

Well-documented conservation value of coffee agroforestry as habitat for many taxa, as buffer zones, and in improving the quality of the agricultural matrix.

Coffee agroforestForest

vs.

Research QuestionWhat is the role of coffee agroforestry in conserving tree diversity & community composition found in native forests?

Coffee agroforestForest

1. Floristic richness and vegetative structure

2. Tree community composition3. Composition by traits of succession4. Presence & abundance of tree

species of conservation concern

VS

La Sepultura Biosphere ReserveChiapas, Mexico

Coffee farm (n=31)Forest site (n=10)Community

Data CollectedField work in coffee farms (n=31) and forests (n=10): • Tree richness & abundance• Canopy openness• Elevation• Basal area• Coffee shrub density

Circular plots, 907 m2

Data Analysis

• Richness, diversity indices, Chao richness estimator, rarefaction curves

• Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS)• Classified trees according to– Succession stage– Conservation concern status (critically endangered,

endangered, or vulnerable)*

Differences between forest & agroforest analyzed with t-test

* Based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and The Red List of Mexican Cloud Forest Trees

Plot level (alpha) diversityCoffee agroforest Forest

* P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001; N. S > 0.05.

Farm

Landscape level (gamma) diversityCoffee agroforest Forest

Results: Landscape levelCoffee agroforest Forest

Coffee agroforestForest

Farm

Species community composition:NMDS on species abundance data

Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM)P-value=0.01

Community composition by succession stage and conservation concern status

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******

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Inga spp.

* P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001; N. S > 0.05.

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Why do we see this?• Mixture of ecological and social processes.• Social:– Farmers’ believes of which trees are good for coffee– Legacy of past policies that promoted Inga trees– Knowledge is based on experience, family & friends,

NGOs, government.• Not all supported by scientific information

• Ecological:– Changes in microclimate, opening of canopy, soil

disturbances– Landscape matrix (i.e., proximity to forest vs. crop field)

What does this mean?

Conventional Agroforest agriculture

Forest Agroforest

The conservation value of coffee agroforestry also depends on the

role it plays vis-à-vis other land uses.

Thank you!¡Gracias!

Dhanyawaad

Contact:Vivian Valenciavv2188@columbia.edu

Acknowledgements

• We would like to thank the coffee farmers of the participating communities for their contribution to this study.

• Taxonomist M. Martínez-Icó (ECOSUR) and C. Morales Diaz (ECOSUR) for field support.

• Research was supported by the Earth Institute Travel Grant, Institute of Latin American Studies Pre-Dissertation Field Research Grant, E3B Biology Pre-dissertation Grant, and El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR).