Environmental Services of Native Tree Plantations and Agroforestry Systems in Central America

Background

Plantations and agroforestry systems supply wood and environmental services such as carbon sequestration and recovery of biodiversity. At the time of writing (2004), Central American countries were developing systems of payments for environmental services to encourage the development of these systems.

Research Goals & Methods

The goal of this research was to gather information on the environmental services provided by tree plantation and agroforestry systems. Experimental native tree plantations in Costa Rica were measured for growth, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity recuperation in both mixed and single-species plantations. 

Conclusions & Takeaways

In general, the mixed-species plots had a higher total productivity and increased biodiversity recuperation than the single-species plots. The following four species were found to have the largest accumulation of biomass: D. panamensis, T. amazonia, V. guatemalensis, and H. alchorneoides. The authors found a preference of local farmers for native species grown in mixed plantations, which may reduce market risk and also diminish the possibility of pathogen attacks.