Habitat Changes in Colombian Coffee Farms Under Increasing Management Intensification

I analyzed a set of environmental and vegetation variables in order to characterize an intensification gradient for coffee production agroecosystems. I measured 14 habitat variables within 12 Colombian farms classified into four management systems at the Risaralda region of Colombia: Forests, Polygeneric Shaded coffee, Monogeneric Shaded coffee and Sun coffee plantations. The habitat variables were categorized into three vertical levels: arboreal, shrubs and soil. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the habitat effect is driven mainly by drastic changes (i.e. elimination) in the arboreal level along the intensification gradient, although variables at other levels showed gradual and sometimes unexpected changes. I then adapted the management index developed by Mas and Dietsch (2003) to the coffee plantations in this study. The quantitatively supported management index showed a close correspondence to the initial qualitatively classification of the farms. I conclude that intensification of coffee production has clear measurable effects on habitat characteristics and that the management index reflects the gradient of intensification in the studied farms. The approach of using the management index could be highly valuable for the programs of shade coffee certification and conservation goals. Inge Armbrecht Universidad del Valle Departamento de Biología Ciudad Universitaria Meléndez Apartado Aéreo 25360 Cali. Colombia [email protected]