Report from the Field Assessing the Conservation Value of Shade-Grown Coffee: a Biological Perspective Using Neotropical Birds
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Report from the Field Assessing the Conservation Value of Shade-Grown Coffee: a Biological Perspective using Neotropical Birds Thomas V. Dietsch School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, 430 E. University Ave., Ann Arbor, Ml 48109; wilderth @ umich.edu Abstract Shade-grown coffee has been marketed as a less intensive management practice that may help improve biodiversity conservation (Perfecto et al. 1996). Studies have shown higher species richness in shade-grown coffee than sun, however, effects on bird species of conservation concern are not clear. This study uses two international conservation lists produced by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to evaluate potential benefits for Neotropical birds. Sixty-six species of birds observed in coffee grown with a shade component were found on either the IUCN or CITES lists. An alternative approach may be to use range-restricted endemic birds as indicators of conservation success (ICBP 1992). Countries with high numbers of these endemics are among the highest-ranked producers of coffee. Biodiversity- friendly agriculture is only in its infancy, with coffee as an important test case. Improved assessment and monitoring of species at risk, Neotropical birds in this case, can provide an important guide for future research while improving consumer confidence in this complicated effort. A number of studies have shown that cof- a better measure is needed to assess the grams (i.e., park conservation). While fee farms using less intensive manage- conservation value of alternative land-use CITES gives us a good snapshot of spe- ment practices (shade-grown) contain a management practices like shade-grown cies that could benefit from changes in higher diversity of resident and migratory coffee. This paper uses two well-known habitat management, the list is somewhat birds (Wunderle & Latta 1996, international lists that identify species selective since species are placed on the Greenburg,etal. 1997b). The initial prom- which merit conservation attention pro- list to impede the international wildlife ise of these studies has spurred a move- duced by the World Conservation Union trade. Several groups including birds of ment to market certified "shade-grown" (IUCN) and the Convention on Interna- prey, parrots, and hummingbirds receive coffees. These coffees currently focus on tional Trade in Endangered Species blanket coverage to improve enforcement producing high quality taste to compete (CITES) to assess how many birds spe- efforts. However, even with these groups with other gourmet coffees, but are sold cies of conservation concern might ben- removed from Table 1, ten species remain at higher prices (by including a price pre- efit from shade-grown coffee in the based on other criteria including the mium) to provide incentives for farmers Neotropics. Golden-cheeked Warbler (Dendroica to use less intensive growing practices. This study compared IUCN and chrysoparia; U.S. Endangered Species While these marketing efforts have em- CITES bird lists with those found in eight and long distance migrant), rare endemics phasized the general benefits to tropical research publications on birds found in like the Azure-rumpedTanager (Tangara biodiversity and migratory birds, the di- coffee plantations that contained some cabanisi) and national symbols like the rect benefits of shade-grown coffee for level of shade canopy as defined by the Resplendent Quetzal {Pharomachrus species identified as meriting conserva- authors, excluding those found in areas mocinno). tion attention has received little attention. defined as sun coffee. Sixty-six species This review focused on the Higher numbers of species does not nec- of Neotropical birds listed by IUCN or Neotropics where the majority of the work essarily translate into better conservation CITES have been observed in shade cof- on birds and coffee has been conducted since common species often move into fee plantations (Table 1) suggesting there and does not include endangered species human-managed landscapes artificially may be some conservation value that may lists from individual countries. Another inflating species richness. Consequently enhance traditional conservation pro- approach evaluating conservation poten- 122 Endangered Species UPDATE Vol. 17 No. 6 2000 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table 1. Neotropical bird species of international concern observed in shade coffee plantations as listed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN, where END= endangered and NT=threatened) (Collar, et al. 1992, Collar, et al. 1994) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES appendix listing, see Figure 1), grouped by order and family. Data compiled by author. Common Name Scientific Name IUCN CITES REFS Common Name Scientific Name IUCN CITES REFS FALCONIFORMES APODIFORMES (Trochilidae) Little Hermit Phaethornis ionguemareus :; .###(#^,m@W#' - Reddish Hermit Phaethornis ruber d.e Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeilia abeillei Anti*ecofro*&~ma*9Q .^.[yJl'!??,JJ.^!Tin.9^^.. Amazilia beryllina #KR*___ F«""*l' w»*» <=_.«*-. GALLIFORMES (Cracidae) Azure-crowned Hummingbird Amazilia cyanocephala _____ d, e Great Currasow Crax rubra III f B5aMMumfT*i*i,d Amazaecywwm ! Highland Gyan :l&mmfm&t$iim.' ". NTT ^.*'A V:**;,::. Amazilia edward "Plain Chachalaca Orfafis vetula III a.f I M_#M_##gK a.f Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl PSITTACIFORMES Anthracothorax viridis i3:.tra^^^^ Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti #B___#_____aW^mm^^W i -,f,i ^T^s^S?^e^.^a^/^ln§^ Campylopterus iargipennis Fork-tailed Emerald Chlorostilbon canivetii Magnificent Hummingbird earth ro at HeliomasterHeliomaster longirostrislongif STRIGIFORMES :,::r-T:"7 •'•. gpir ywyewg Vervain Hummingbird Meilisuga minima Tropical Screech-Owl Otus choliba #_#__%W_wm##m_ " 'mW^Ago#_ WWWW#mA(^C%', :#####-(##«#i','" b.f Streamertail Trochilus polyimus PICIFORMES PASSERIFORMES (Rhamphastidae) Parulidae I Red-billed Toucan Rhamphastos tucanus II b I Dendrokia chrysoparia TROGONIFORMES Thraupidae MN***MM#W '% -: .\/' Phewmat$H^:m<*atma:~ ##w2 jAzure-rumped Tanager Tangara cabanisi CORACIIFORMES (Todidae [Narrow-billed Tody Todus angustirvstris NT i I i Siskin Carckmlis alnceps References a Calvo and Blake 1998 c Dietsch, pers. obs e Greenberg et al. 1997b g Johnson 2000 i Roberts et al. 2000 b Canaday1997 d Greenberg et al. 1997a f Fuerrero 1999 h Pueblaetal. 1999 j Wunderle and Latta 1996 rial may be to use endemic range-restricted comm., Dietsch pers. obs.). In Jamaica, provide a more complete assessment for (less than 50,000 km2) species as a subset Johnson (2000) found 17 of 35 endemics the Neotropics including Mexico, El Sal- of birds more likely to face conservation in shade coffee plantations. vador, Nicaragua, Columbia, and Pern but problems (ICBP 1992). There seems to These results suggest that conserva- more work is needed in other major cof- be a strong correlation between countries tion benefits for endemic and resident fee producing areas (i.e., Brazil and Costa with high coffee production and high birds in the Neotropics merit more atten- Rica). While some work has been done numbers of range-restricted endemic birds tion, especially since these birds are fur- in India, other parts of the world arc con- (Table 2). In the highlands of southern ther constrained by breeding require- spicuously absent from the coffee-and- Mexico, 26 of these rare bird species are ments. Of the 66 species listed here, only bird literature, most notably Africa and found and depending on habitat require- three are long distance migrants, a major Southeast Asia, both major coffee produc- ments could benefit from the expanded focus of the current birds and coffee lit- ing regions (FAO 1999). Evaluating par- use of sustainable "biodiversity-friendly" erature and marketing material. However, ticular groups that may be at risk from coffee growing practices (ICBP 1992). much more work is needed, the birds re- management practices should improve as- Ten of these endemic species appear on ported in Table 1 are from just a handful sessments of conservation value as re- species lists from coffee plantations in of studies in a fraction of the countries search continues. southern Mexico and Guatemala currently producing coffee. A number of Numerous challenges still remain (Greenberg et al. 1997a & b, Peters pers. studies are currently underway that should before this approach to a conservation Vol. 17 No. 6 2000 Endangered Species UPDATE 123 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. national 8:297-308. CITES Appendix definitions Canaday, C. Loss of insectivorous birds along a 1. Appendix I shall include all species threatened with extinction which are or may be gradient of human impact in Amazonia. Bio- affected by trade. Trade in specimens of these species must be subject to particularly logical Conservation 77:63-77. strict regulation in order not to endanger further their survival and must only be autho- Collar, N.J., M.J. Crosby and A.J. Stattersfield. rized in exceptional circumstances. 1994. Birds to Watch 2. The World List of 2. Appendix II shall include: Threatened Birds. Birdlife conservation series a) all species which although not necessarily now threatened with extinction may no. 4. Bird life International. Smithsonian In- become so unless trade in specimens of such