When it comes to ecological measures and sustainability, Costa Rica (CR) is one of the most developed countries in Latin America. During the past two years CR was able to be nearly 100% eco-power self-sufficient. Moreover it is planning to be the first country worldwide to prohibit disposable plastic and one of the organic pioneers in the region. Organic food export and people’s ecologic awareness have been rising. As the biodiversity in CR is one of the highest worldwide, the country’s nature protection strategy is a topic to focus on and worth to be studied. Latin American studies on organic management as a tool for biodiversity conservation are rare. Organic Agriculture (OA), as written in the IFOAM 1972, always committed to the conservation of biodiversity. There were only few attempts to include biodiversity conservation into the existing organic standards and guidelines. First in 2005, biodiversity conservation, as part of the draft “Biodiversity and Landscape Standards” was mentioned and integrated into the IFOAM Basic Standards.
In CR, one of the principal promoters of OA is the CEDECO (Educative Corporation of Development in Costa Rica). Their research often focused on arthropods since many species are known to be biological indicators of an ecosystem’s health status. Exemplary insects of their studies are butterflies or dung beetles. Many birds are insect-/ omnivorous, thus directly linked to arthropod abundance. Organic coffee plantations in CR are tried to be integrated into nature (agroforestry), which results in a different habitat than the conventional ones. Instead of shrub-sized coffee plants, there is a sudden interaction with the canopy and a more diverse shrub-layer. In the following report, the focus will be laid on species that experienced a success story but also those who might not. It will be demonstrated by changes in vegetation, diversity changes above and beneath ground and the way the farmer can profit from each species.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Introduction
- Research questions
- Objectives
- Methods
- Results
- Overview of organic coffee production in Costa Rica
- Biodiversity in Costa Rica
- Biodiversity check
- Arthropods
- Birds
- Discussion
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This report examines the impact of organic and conventional coffee plantations on arthropod and avian biodiversity in Costa Rica, focusing on the ecological and economic benefits of organic farming practices. It explores the connection between organic agriculture and biodiversity conservation, specifically the role of arthropods as indicators of ecosystem health and the interdependence of bird populations with arthropod abundance. The report aims to highlight the positive aspects of organic coffee production while acknowledging potential challenges.
- The impact of organic coffee production on biodiversity in Costa Rica
- The role of arthropods as indicators of ecosystem health
- The relationship between bird populations and arthropod abundance
- The benefits and challenges of implementing organic farming practices
- The economic viability of organic coffee production in Costa Rica
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the study by providing context about Costa Rica's commitment to environmental sustainability, particularly in the realm of organic agriculture. It highlights the importance of biodiversity conservation in Costa Rica and explores the potential of organic management as a tool for biodiversity protection.
- Methods: This chapter outlines the methodologies employed in the study, including data collection techniques, sampling procedures, and statistical analysis. The details of the specific methods used for studying arthropods and birds in coffee plantations will be discussed in this section.
- Results: This chapter presents the findings of the study, focusing on the biodiversity observed in both organic and conventional coffee plantations in Costa Rica. It includes an overview of organic coffee production practices in the country and a detailed analysis of the arthropod and bird communities in different plantation types.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This study focuses on the relationship between organic coffee production, biodiversity, and the ecological impact of agricultural practices in Costa Rica. The keywords include organic agriculture, biodiversity, arthropods, avifauna, coffee plantations, ecosystem health, biological indicators, agroforestry, and sustainability.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Moritz Stüber (Autor:in), 2018, Conventional and Organic Coffee Plantations and their Effects on Arthropods and Avifauna. A Biodiversity Check in Costa Rica, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/444907
