Combining high biodiversity with high yields in tropical agroforests

Area of Science:

• Agroecology
• Conservation Biology
• Tropical Agriculture

Background:

• Agricultural intensification is a primary driver of global biodiversity loss.
• Wildlife-friendly farming and land-sparing are debated solutions.
• Tropical agroforests, like cacao farms, are crucial ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between crop yield and biodiversity in Indonesian smallholder cacao agroforests.
• To explore opportunities for wildlife-friendly management in tropical agroforestry systems.
• To assess if high biodiversity and high crop productivity are compatible.

Main Methods:

• Integration of biodiversity data (trees, fungi, invertebrates, vertebrates) with crop productivity data.
• Analysis of yield-biodiversity relationships under current management practices.
• Assessment of factors influencing both biodiversity and yield, such as shade, labor, and input levels.

Main Results:

• No significant decrease in species richness (trees, fungi, invertebrates, vertebrates) was observed with increasing cacao yield.
• Moderate shade, sufficient labor, and appropriate input levels can support complex habitat structures.
• These conditions facilitate the co-occurrence of high biodiversity and high crop yields.

Conclusions:

• Current cacao agroforest management in Indonesia shows little correlation between yield and biodiversity.
• Wildlife-friendly management practices can be implemented to enhance biodiversity without reducing crop productivity.
• Agroforests can be designed to benefit both biodiversity conservation and farmer livelihoods, reducing pressure on natural habitats.