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A Review of the Agroforestry Systems of Costa Rica

Background

This literature review provides a historical overview of agroforestry systems in Costa Rica from the 1970s to the present.

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A Survey of Small-Scale Farmers Using Trees in Pastures in Herrera Province, Panama

background

The Herrera Province on the Azuero Peninsula of Panamá has experienced significant deforestation for the purpose of cattle ranching.

research goal & methods

The goal of the study was to determine more information about the use of trees in smallholder cow pastures. Herreran pasture owners were interviewed about the different uses for trees in their pastures as well as the variety of tree species.

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Agroforestry Training Program: Taking Action, Reaching Out

background

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Guidance on Coffee Carbon Project Development Using the Simplified Agroforestry Methodology (Lineamientos Para el Diseño de Proyectos de Carbono en Cafetales Usando La Metodología Agroforestal Simplificada)

 

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Antecedentes

Esta guía fue preparada por el “Rainforest Alliance” con el objetivo de proveer a dueños y gerentes de fincas cafetaleras información práctica y detallada sobre el desarrollo de proyectos agroforestales o de repoblación forestal; esto con la meta final de establecer elegibilidad para programas de bonos de carbono. Se provee una vista amplia de proyectos agroforestales de carbono, incluyendo información sobre las distintas labores necesarias para la implementación de los mismos.

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Woody Plant Diversity and Structure of Shade-Grown-Coffee Plantations in Northern Chiapas, Mexico

background

This article presents research on coffee stand structure and diversity, with data collected from 61 coffee plots in Chiapas, Mexico.

Research Goals & Methods

The following variables were measured: coffee density, slope, plot aspect, the number of individuals of each shade species (divided into 9 diametric classes), number of strata, species use, and presence of woody plant species.

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Tree species diversity and vegetation structure in shade coffee farms in Veracruz, Mexico

Background

While some studies have argued that shade coffee enables similar biodiversity to remnant forest fragments, others contest that the ecological functions of shade coffee can be assumed to be the same or that policies promoting shade coffee will also benefit remnant forest fragments. Not all taxa have been thoroughly studied in shade coffee. This study reports on tree species diversity and vegetation structure in shade coffee farms in Veracruz, Mexico.

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Tree biodiversity in farmer cooperatives of a shade coffee landscape in western El Salvador

background

Conservation of tropical biodiversity in agricultural landscapes has become more important as the area covered by natural ecosystems decreases. Understanding the types of biodiversity common in agriculturally managed lands, and involving farmers in conservation planning, is important for regional conservation goals.

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Coffee Agroforestry Systems in Central America: I. A Review of Quantitative Information on Physiological and Ecological Processes

Background

Coffee (Coffea arabica, L.) is the most widely grown cash crop in Central America.  While previous research identified various environmental factors that affect its growth and yield, the authors believe  that quantitative knowledge of coffee and other tropical agroforestry systems is still limited. This article provides both a literature review and a summary of quantitative data necessary to develop process-based models for coffee agroforestry systems in Central America.

Open access copy available

Coffee Agroforestry Systems in Central America: II. Development of a Simple Process-Based Model and Preliminary Results

Background

Globally, coffee (Coffea arabica, L.) is an important cash crop. In past decades, there was  a growing trend  in Central America towards  high-input monocultures, but most recently, agroforestry is again becoming a common system. However, it is difficult to optimise the selection of shade tree species in an agroforestry system. This article provides information on a simple dynamic model for coffee-agroforestry systems in Central America.

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Vilcanota Valley Rehabilitation and Management Project

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