When it comes to ecological measures and sustainability, Costa Rica (CR) is one of the most developed countries in Latin America. During the past two years CR was able to be nearly 100% eco-power self-sufficient. Moreover it is planning to be the first country worldwide to prohibit disposable plastic and one of the organic pioneers in the region. Organic food export and people’s ecologic awareness have been rising. As the biodiversity in CR is one of the highest worldwide, the country’s nature protection strategy is a topic to focus on and worth to be studied. Latin American studies on organic management as a tool for biodiversity conservation are rare. Organic Agriculture (OA), as written in the IFOAM 1972, always committed to the conservation of biodiversity. There were only few attempts to include biodiversity conservation into the existing organic standards and guidelines. First in 2005, biodiversity conservation, as part of the draft “Biodiversity and Landscape Standards” was mentioned and integrated into the IFOAM Basic Standards.
In CR, one of the principal promoters of OA is the CEDECO (Educative Corporation of Development in Costa Rica). Their research often focused on arthropods since many species are known to be biological indicators of an ecosystem’s health status. Exemplary insects of their studies are butterflies or dung beetles. Many birds are insect-/ omnivorous, thus directly linked to arthropod abundance. Organic coffee plantations in CR are tried to be integrated into nature (agroforestry), which results in a different habitat than the conventional ones. Instead of shrub-sized coffee plants, there is a sudden interaction with the canopy and a more diverse shrub-layer. In the following report, the focus will be laid on species that experienced a success story but also those who might not. It will be demonstrated by changes in vegetation, diversity changes above and beneath ground and the way the farmer can profit from each species.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Research questions
1.3 Objectives
2 Methods
3 Results
3.1 Overview of organic coffee production in Costa Rica
3.2 Biodiversity in Costa Rica
3.3 Biodiversity check
3.3.1 Arthropods
3.3.2 Birds
4 Discussion
5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This report investigates the ecological impact of converting conventional coffee plantations to organic management systems in Costa Rica. It specifically examines how these transitions affect biodiversity, focusing on arthropod populations and avifauna, while simultaneously evaluating the potential economic and functional benefits these biodiversity improvements offer to farmers.
- Comparison of conventional and organic coffee cultivation systems
- Impact of agroforestry and structural complexity on species richness
- Role of arthropods and birds as ecosystem health indicators
- Economic and agricultural benefits of biodiverse plantation management
- Analysis of microclimatic and landscape-level factors in Costa Rica
Excerpt from the Book
3.3.1 Arthropods
Many insects are seen as health indicators. E.g., they have an active role in pollination, decomposition and soil maintenance. They can be very beneficial to a farmer, for example in pollinating crop plants or input nitrogen. Many case studies and biodiversity checks are therefore focussing on arthropods. Within a research on OA and its impact on climate change, the CEDECO together with its agricultural initiative “Cam(Bio)2”, performed a biodiversity check of organic and conventional coffee plantations in Caraigres, San José (close to the Central Valley). They focused on dung beetles and butterflies, because of their status as ecological health indicators (CEDECO 2010). Especially the abundance of dung beetles (genus Onthophagus and Eurysternus) and butterflies (genus Cissia and Eurema) tremendously increased at organically managed plantations. Differences in the diversity of dung beetles were insignificant. Conventional coffee plantations showed a higher butterfly diversity. The authors found 33 butterfly species, unique to the conventional system and only 19 butterfly species for the organic system. Non-frugivorous butterfly species (e.g. nectivorous) are more common in open areas, butterfly diversity might therefore be increased at conventional coffee plantations. The authors argued, that a higher abundance of butterflies came from the presence of herbs and trees in organic plantations. The absence of chemical herbicides and intensive management is favouring diverse plant growth and dung beetle abundance. Conventional coffee plantations are often managed in open areas, whereas organic coffee plantations, e.g. as agroforestry, are kept more naturally balanced within the tropical forest ecosystem (Sánchez et al. 2014). Flowering plants like epiphytes on top of the trees are also attracting pollinators. The bee diversity of CR coffee farms is higher if flowering plants are integrated into the borders. Bee pollination has also been shown to increase the yields in coffee production. A conversion to organic coffee plantations can also make ant abundance increase around 20% (Rice and Bedoya 2010).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the ecological importance of Costa Rica and introduces the research scope regarding organic coffee production and biodiversity conservation.
2 Methods: Describes the literature-based approach using databases and local research to gather information on biodiversity and agricultural practices in Costa Rica.
3 Results: Details the state of the Costa Rican coffee sector, the regional biodiversity status, and specific findings regarding the arthropod and bird populations in different plantation systems.
4 Discussion: Analyzes the potential for organic agroforestry to serve as a sustainable solution, considering the trade-offs between ecosystem health and agricultural management.
5 Conclusion: Summarizes the positive correlation between organic conversion and increased biodiversity while noting the difficulties in comparative studies due to regional microclimates.
Keywords
Organic Agriculture, Biodiversity, Costa Rica, Coffee, Agroforestry, Arthropods, Avifauna, Ecosystem Health, Sustainability, Soil Quality, Pollination, Habitat Complexity, Conservation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The report investigates the environmental effects of conventional versus organic coffee farming practices in Costa Rica, specifically evaluating how organic management influences biodiversity.
Which species groups are analyzed in the study?
The study primarily focuses on arthropods—such as dung beetles and butterflies—and avifauna (birds), as these groups serve as key indicators of ecosystem health.
What is the primary objective of the work?
The objective is to synthesize existing case studies to understand the potential for biodiversity conservation in coffee cultivation and to determine the mutual benefits for both nature and the farmers.
Which scientific methodology was applied?
The work is conducted as a literature review, utilizing databases like ScienceDirect and ResearchGate, complemented by local organizational data and expert case studies.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main sections cover the overview of Costa Rican coffee production, the state of national biodiversity, the specifics of agroforestry systems, and a detailed check on how different species respond to organic management.
What are the characterizing keywords of this document?
Key concepts include organic agriculture, agroforestry, biodiversity, arthropod abundance, bird diversity, and ecosystem health indicators.
How does structural complexity affect biodiversity in plantations?
Higher structural complexity, such as adding varied plant layers like legume trees and shrubs, is positively correlated with increased species richness in bird and insect populations.
Why is it difficult to compare different coffee farms in Costa Rica?
The region is characterized by an extraordinary number of unique microclimates, different elevation profiles, and varying soil qualities, which makes it challenging to find strictly comparable farm sites for research.
- Citar trabajo
- Moritz Stüber (Autor), 2018, Conventional and Organic Coffee Plantations and their Effects on Arthropods and Avifauna. A Biodiversity Check in Costa Rica, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/444907
