Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Incorporating livelihoods in biodiversity conservation: a case study of cacao agroforestry systems in Talamanca, Costa Rica

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biodiversity and Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Over the past two decades, various organizations have promoted cacao agroforestry systems as a tool for biodiversity conservation in the Bribri-Cabécar indigenous territories of Talamanca, Costa Rica. Despite these efforts, cacao production is declining and is being replaced by less diverse systems that have lower biodiversity value. Understanding the factors that influence household land use is essential in order to promote cacao agroforestry systems as a viable livelihood strategy. We incorporate elements of livelihoods analyses and socioeconomic data to examine cacao agroforestry systems as a livelihood strategy compared with other crops in Talamanca. Several factors help to explain the abandonment of cacao agroforestry systems and their conversion to other land uses. These factors include shocks and trends beyond the control of households such as crop disease and population growth and concentration, as well as structures and processes such as the shift from a subsistence to a cash-based economy, relative prices of cacao and other cash crops, and the availability of market and government support for agriculture. We argue that a livelihoods approach provides a useful framework to examine the decline of cacao agroforestry systems and generates insights on how to stem the rate of their conversion to less diverse land uses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acuña K (2002) Producción de cacao en Alta Talamanca: experiencias, conclusiones y recomendaciones para incorporar una estrategia sociocultural. Lic. Thesis, University of Costa Rica, San José

  • Altieri M (2004) Project evaluation: biodiversity conservation and sustainable production in small, indigenous organic cocoa farms in the Talamanca-Caribbean Corridor, Costa Rica (GEF Grant TF No. 027789). World Bank, Latin America and the Caribbean

    Google Scholar 

  • Ampuero E (1967) Monilia pod rot of cocoa. Cocoa Grower’s Bull 9:15–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrade H, Detlefsen G (2003) Principales actores de Talamanca. Agroforestería en las Américas 10:6–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Baligar VC, Fageria NK (2005) Soil aluminum effects on growth and nutrition of cacao. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 51:709–713

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beer J (1991) Implementing on-farm agroforestry research: lessons learned in Talamanca, Costa Rica. Agroforest Syst 15:229–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berg BL (1995) Qualitative research methods for the social sciences, 2nd edn. Allyn and Bacon, Boston, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Borge C, Castillo R (1997) Cultura y Conservación en la Talamanca Indígena. Universidad Estatal a Distancia, San José, Costa Rica

    Google Scholar 

  • Boserup E (1981) Population and technological change. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd C, Blench R, Bourn D, Drake L, Stevenson P (1999) Reconciling interests among wildlife, livestock, and people in eastern Africa: a sustainable livelihoods approach. Overseas Development Institute No. 45, London

  • CABI Bioscience. (2001) Developing sustainable cocoa production systems. Briefing Paper, CABI Commodities (on-line), http://www.cabi-commodities.org/Acc/ACCrc/COCbp.htm. Accessed 15/05/06

  • Campuzano H (1980) La moniliasis de cacao. Cacaotero Colombiano 13:21–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Candela S (2006) Convergencias y divergencias de la relación entre organizaciones indígenas y externas respecto a la gestión de recursos naturales en los territorios indígenas de la Alta Talamanca/ Caribe, Costa Rica. M.Sc. thesis, CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica

  • Carney D (1998) Sustainable rural livelihoods: What contribution can we make? Department for International Development (DFID), London, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Carney D, Drinkwater M, Rusinow T, Neefjes K, Wanmali S, Singh N (1999) Livelihoods approaches compared. Department for International Development (DFID), London, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Castillo LE, Clemens R, Solis E (2000) Pesticide residues in the aquatic environment of banana plantation areas in the north Atlantic zone of Costa Rica. Environ Toxicol Chem 19:1942–1950

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castillo LE, de la Cruz E, Ruepert C (1997) Ecotoxicology and pesticides in tropical aquatic ecosystems of Central America. Environ Toxicol Chem 16:41–51

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chambers R, Conway G (1991) Sustainable rural livelihoods: practical concepts for the 21st century. Institute of Development Studies Discussion Paper 296, Sussex, UK

  • Department for International Development (DFID) (2003) Sustainable livelihoods guidance sheets. London, UK

  • Deugd M (2001) Feasibility of organic production systems in Talamanca, Costa Rica. Universidad Libre de Amsterdam, San José, Costa Rica

    Google Scholar 

  • Ecocert Canada (2006) General reference standards for organic agriculture (on-line), http://www.garantiebio-ecocert.qc.ca/eng/standards.html. Accessed 31/08/06

  • Ellis F (2000) Rural livelihoods and diversity in developing countries. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Enriquez G, Suarez C (1978) Monilia disease of cacao in Costa Rica. Turrialba 28:339–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans HC (1981) Pod rot of cacao caused by Moniliophthora (Monilia) roreri. Phytopathological Papers no. 24. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, London, UK

  • Gamez R, Ugalde A (1988) Costa Rica’s national park system and the preservation of biological diversity: linking conservation with socio-economic development. In: Almeda F, Pringle CM (eds) Tropical rainforests: diversity and conservation, Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas, pp 131–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia EJ (2003) Análisis del cultivo del plátano en el marco de la apertura comercial. Universidad Estatal a Distancia, San José, Costa Rica

    Google Scholar 

  • Gómez Valenzuela VF (2001) Analisis de selección de mejoras en producción sostenible y conservación de la biodiversidad en fincas indígenas de cacao en Talamanca, Costa Rica. M.Sc. thesis. CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica

  • Guiracocha G, Harvey C, Somarriba E, Krauss U, Carrillo E (2001) Conservación de la biodiversidad en sistemas agroforestales con cacao y banano en Talamanca, Costa Rica. Agroforesteria en las Americas 8:7–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey CA, Gonzales JG, Somarriba E (2006) Dung beetle and terrestrial mammal diversity in forest, indigenous agroforestry systems and plantain monocultures in Talamanca, Costa Rica. Biodivers Conserv 15:555–585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henriques W, Jeffers RD, Lacher TE, Kendall RJ (1997) Agrochemical use on banana plantations in Latin America: perspectives on ecological risk. Environ Toxicol Chem 16:91–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinojosa Sardan VR (2002) Comercialización y certificación de cacao (Theobroma cacao Linn.) y banano (Musa AAA) orgánico de las comunidades indígenas de Talamanca, Costa Rica. M.Sc. Thesis, CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica

  • Holdridge LR (1967) Life zone ecology. Tropical Science Center, San José, Costa Rica

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulme D, Murphree M (eds) (2001) African wildlife and livelihoods: the promise and performance of community conservation. James Currey, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Johns ND (1999) Conservation in Brazil’s chocolate forest: the unlikely persistence of the traditional cocoa agroecosystem. Environ Manage 23:31–47

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krauss U, Soberanis W (2002) Effect of fertilization and biocontrol application frequency on cocoa pod diseases. Biol Control 24:82–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krauss U, ten Hoopen M, Hidalgo E, Martínez A, Arroyo C, García J, Portuguez A, Sanchez V (2003) Manejo integrado de la moniliasis (Moniliophthora roreri) del cacao (Theobroma cacao) en Talamanca, Costa Rica. Agroforestería en las Americas 10:52–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Leach AW, Mumford JD, Krauss U (2002) Modelling Moniliophthora roreri in Costa Rica. Crop Prot 21:317–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowrance R, Williams RG, Inamdar SP, Bosch DD, Sheridan JM (2001) Evaluation of coastal plain conservation buffers using the riparian ecosystem management model. J Am Water Resour Assoc 37:1445–1455

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McNeely JA, Scherr SJ (2003) Ecoagriculture: strategies to feed the world and save biodiversity. Island Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercer DE, Miller RP (1998) Socioeconomic research in agroforestry: progress, prospects, and priorities. Agroforest Syst 38:177–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mikkelsen B (1995) Methods for development work and research: a guide for practitioners. Sage Publications, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Montambault JR, Alavalapati JRR (2005) Socioeconomic research in agroforestry: a decade in review. Agroforest Syst 65:151–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mora J (2005) Política agraria y desarrollo rural en Costa Rica: elementos para su definición en el nuevo entorno internacional. Agronomía Costarricense 29:101–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Morera CM, Specer L, Chavarria A, Barrantes E, Oviedo M, Morales G, Zúñiga R (1999) Proyecto de ordenamiento de los territorios BriBri y Cabécar de Talamanca: informe final. National University, Heredia, Costa Rica

    Google Scholar 

  • Municipality of Talamanca (2003) Plan local de desarrollo: 2003:2013. Municipality of Talamanca, Bribri, Costa Rica

  • Murillo CV, Segura AG (2003) Diccionario de mitología Bribri. Editorial de la Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica

    Google Scholar 

  • Nair PKR (1998) Directions in tropical agroforestry research: past, present, and future. Agroforest Syst 38:223–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niler E (2002) The chocolate forest and other delicious ideas. Nat Conservancy Spring 2002:35–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Palminteri S, Powell G, Fernandéz A, Tovar D (1999) Talamanca Montane-Isthmian Pacific ecoregion-based conservation plan: preliminary reconnaissance phase. Tropical Science Center, San José, Costa Rica

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips-Mora W (2003) Origin, biogeography, genetic diversity and taxonomic affinities of the cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) fungus Moniliophthora roreri (Cif.) as determined using molecular, phytopathological and morphophysiological evidence. Ph.D. thesis, The University of Reading, Reading, UK

  • Phillips-Mora W, Castillo J, Krauss U, Rodríguez E, Wilkinson MJ (2005) Evaluation of cacao (Theobroma cacao) clones against seven Colombian isolates of Moniliophthora roreri from four pathogen genetic groups. Plant Pathol 54:483–490

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Polidoro B, Winowiecki L, Johnson-Maynard J, McDaniel P, Morra M (in press) Suelos del valle y del piedmonte en Talamanca: un paisaje dinámico para el almacenamiento de carbono. Agroforestería en las Américas

  • Pringle CM, Scatena FN, Paaby-Hansen P, Nuńez-Ferrera M (2000) River conservation in Latin America and the Caribbean. In: Boon PJ, Davies BR, Petts GE (eds) Global perspectives on river conservation: science, policy, and practice. John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp 41–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramirez OA, Somarriba E, Ludewigs T, Ferreira P (2001) Financial returns, stability and risk of cacao-plantain-agroforestry systems in Central America. Agroforest Syst 51:141–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reitsma R, Parrish JD, McLarney W (2001) The role of cocoa plantations in maintaining forest avian diversity in southeastern Costa Rica. Agroforest Syst 53:185–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rice RA, Greenberg R (2000) Cacao cultivation and the conservation of biological diversity. Ambio 29:167–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson JC (1996) Bananas and plantains. CAB International, Wallingford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg DE, Marcotte TP (2005) Land use system modeling and analysis of shaded cacao production in Belize. Agroforest Syst 64:117–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sala OE, Chapin FS 3rd, Armesto JJ, Berlow E, Bloomfield J, Dirzo R, Huber-Sanwald E, Huenneke LF, Jackson RB, Kinzig A, Leemans R, Lodge DM, Mooney HA, Oesterheld M, Poff NL, Sykes MT, Walker BH, Walker M, Wall DH (2000) Global biodiversity scenarios for the year 2100. Science 287:1770–1774

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez-Azofeifa GA, Harriss RC, Storrier AJ, de Camino-Beck T (2002) Water resources and regional land cover change in Costa Rica: impacts and economics. Water Resour Dev 18:409–424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schroth G, da Fonseca GAB, Harvey CA, Gascon C, Vasconcelos HL, Izac AN (eds) (2004) Agroforestry and biodiversity conservation in tropical landscapes. Island Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro HY, Rosenquist EM (2004) Public/private partnerships in agroforestry: the example of working together to improve cocoa sustainability. Agroforest Syst 61:453–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soberanis W, Ríos R, Arévalo E, Zúñiga L, Cabezas O, Krauss U (1999) Increased frequency of phytosanitary pod removal in cacao (Theobroma cacao) increases yield economically in eastern Peru. Crop Protect 18:677–685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Somarriba E (1993) Allocation of farm area to crops in an unstable Costa Rican agricultural community. Ph.D. thesis, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  • Somarriba E, Beer J (1999) Sistemas agroforestales con cacao en Costa Rica y Panamá. Agroforestería en las Americas 6:7–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Somarriba E, Harvey CA (2003) ¿Cómo integrar producción sostenible y conservación de biodiversidad en cacaotales orgánicos indígenas? Agroforestería en las Américas 10:12–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Somarriba E, Beer J, Muschler RG (2001) Research methods for multistrata agroforestry systems with coffee and cacao: recommendations from two decades of research at CATIE. Agroforest Syst 53:195–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Somarriba E, Trivelato M, Villalobos M, Suárez A, Benavides P, Moran K, Orozco L, López A (2003) Diagnostico agroforestal de pequeñas fincas cacaoteras orgánicas de indígenas Bribri y Cabécar de Talamanca, Costa Rica. Agroforestería en las Americas 10:24–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Soto G (1998) Normativa nacional e internacional para la producción orgánica y, o ambientalmente amigable de banano. In: Rosales FE, Tripon SC, Cerna J (eds) Producción de banano orgánico y/o ambientalmente amigable. Memorias del taller internacional realizado en la EARTH, Guácimo, Costa Rica, 27–29 July 1998. INIBAP, pp 24–39

  • Suárez Islas A (2001) Aprovechamiento sostenible de madera de Cordia allidora y Cedrela odorata de regeneración natural en cacaotales y bananales de indígenas de Talamanca. M.Sc. Thesis, CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica

  • Suatunce P, Somarriba E, Harvey CA, Finegan B (2003) Composición florística y estructura de bosques y cacaotales en los territorios indígenas de Talamanca, Costa Rica. Agroforestería en las Americas 10:31–35

    Google Scholar 

  • The Nature Conservancy (2005) Assessing linkages between agriculture and biodiversity in Central America: historical overview and future perspectives. The Nature Conservancy, Mesoamerican & Caribbean Region, Conservation Science Program, San José, Costa Rica

    Google Scholar 

  • Thoms MC (2003) Floodplain-river ecosystems: lateral connections and the implications of human interference. Geomorphology 56:335–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villalobos V, Borge C (1998) Talamanca en la Encrucijada, 2nd edn. Editorial Universidad Estatal a Distancia, San José, Costa Rica

    Google Scholar 

  • Whelan MP (2005) Reading the Talamanca landscape: land use and livelihoods in the Bribri and Cabécar indigenous territories. M.Sc. thesis, CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica

  • Wright SJ, Muller-Landau HC (2006) The future of tropical forest species. Biotropica 38:287–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yepez JP (1999) Talamanca frente al segundo milenio: estrategias para el desarrollo sostenible. Proyecto Namasöl, Talamanca, Costa Rica

    Google Scholar 

  • Young A (1997) Agroforestry for soil management. CAB International, Wallingford, UK

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the UI-CATIE IGERT project (NSF grant 0114304), NSF-EPSCoR, and the Organization of American States (OAS) for provision of funding. Many thanks also to Eduardo Somarriba, Marilyn Villalobos, and the staff and volunteers of the ‘Carbon Sequestration and Development of Environmental Markets’ project for logistical help in Talamanca. We also thank Winfred Steiner, APPTA, the indigenous associations ADITICA, ADITIBRI, and ACOMUITA, and the indigenous communities for their collaboration. Special thanks to Eduardo Somarriba and Max Nielsen-Pincus for reviewing the manuscript. This manuscript is a contribution of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agriculture and Agroforestry, CATIE, Apdo. 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica

    R. M. Dahlquist, M. P. Whelan, L. Winowiecki, B. Polidoro & C. A. Harvey

  2. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, CATIE, Apdo. 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica

    S. Candela

  3. Department of Plant, Soil, and Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844-2339, USA

    R. M. Dahlquist, L. Winowiecki, B. Polidoro, P. A. McDaniel & N. A. Bosque-Pérez

  4. Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844-2334, USA

    J. D. Wulfhorst

Authors
  1. R. M. Dahlquist
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. P. Whelan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. Winowiecki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. Polidoro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. Candela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. C. A. Harvey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. J. D. Wulfhorst
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. P. A. McDaniel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. N. A. Bosque-Pérez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to R. M. Dahlquist or N. A. Bosque-Pérez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dahlquist, R.M., Whelan, M.P., Winowiecki, L. et al. Incorporating livelihoods in biodiversity conservation: a case study of cacao agroforestry systems in Talamanca, Costa Rica. Biodivers Conserv 16, 2311–2333 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-007-9192-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-007-9192-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation