Combining High Biodiversity with High Yields in Tropical Agroforests

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 2011 May 4

PMID 21536873

Citations 37

Authors

Yann Clough

Jan Barkmann

Jana Juhrbandt

Michael Kessler

Thomas Cherico Wanger

Alam Anshary

Damayanti Buchori

Daniele Cicuzza

Kevin Darras

Dadang Dwi Putra

Stefan Erasmi

Ramadhanil Pitopang

Carsten Schmidt

Christian H Schulze

Dominik Seidel

Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter

Kathrin Stenchly

Stefan Vidal

Maria Weist

Arno Christian Wielgoss

Teja Tscharntke

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Local and landscape-scale agricultural intensification is a major driver of global biodiversity loss. Controversially discussed solutions include wildlife-friendly farming or combining high-intensity farming with land-sparing for nature. Here, we integrate biodiversity and crop productivity data for smallholder cacao in Indonesia to exemplify for tropical agroforests that there is little relationship between yield and biodiversity under current management, opening substantial opportunities for wildlife-friendly management. Species richness of trees, fungi, invertebrates, and vertebrates did not decrease with yield. Moderate shade, adequate labor, and input level can be combined with a complex habitat structure to provide high biodiversity as well as high yields. Although livelihood impacts are held up as a major obstacle for wildlife-friendly farming in the tropics, our results suggest that in some situations, agroforests can be designed to optimize both biodiversity and crop production benefits without adding pressure to convert natural habitat to farmland.

Citing Articles

Landscape-level human disturbance results in loss and contraction of mammalian populations in tropical forests.

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Sustainable high-yield farming is essential for bending the curve of biodiversity loss.

Balmford A, Bateman I, Eyres A, Swinfield T, Ball T Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2025; 380(1917):20230216.

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From chocolate to palm oil: The future of Indonesia's cocoa plantations.

Droge S, Bemelmans J, Depoorter C, Jusrin M, Marx A, Verbist B Ambio. 2024; 54(1):151-161.

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Lessons from Ethiopian coffee landscapes for global conservation in a post-wild world.

Hylander K, Nemomissa S, Fischer J, Zewdie B, Ayalew B, Tack A Commun Biol. 2024; 7(1):714.

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Socio-ecological benefits of fine-flavor cacao in its center of origin.

Tscharntke T, Ocampo-Ariza C, Vansynghel J, Ivanez-Ballesteros B, Aycart P, Rodriguez L Conserv Lett. 2024; 16(1):e12936.

PMID: 38440357 PMC: 10909533. DOI: 10.1111/conl.12936.

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