Coffee and Conservation: a Global Context and the Value of Farmer Involvement

In a recent issue of Conservation Biology, Rappole et al. (2003) argued that promoting shade-grown coffee threatens some forest ecosystems (particularly highland pineoak forests) and discussed reasons why the shade coffee movement is misleading in terms of biodiversity conservation. Here, we argue that in the larger global agricultural context, and if promoted correctly, shade coffee does not present a significant threat to forest conservation but instead may advance conservation goals. Furthermore, we present an alternative way for conservationists to reduce future threats from shade-grown coffee via linkage of rigorous shade certification with fair-trade certification programs.