In the next 12 months, 3 new shade tree catalogs will be developed for Santander, Colombia; Cauca, Colombia; and Villa Rica, Peru. Our program aims to add these new catalogs to the existing catalogs we offer. The catalogs will provide information for coffee producers and extension agents to help make informed decisions on whole-farm planning. The information in these catalogs will include which trees are best for supporting biodiversity, sources of additional farm income, and ecosystem services. To create the shade tree catalogs field research on 20-50 shade tree species is collected over 12 months. Data is collected on how birds and insects use the trees for food and shelter. Catalogs also document how producers us ethe trees and include notes on how to propagate the species.

In the next 24 months, new research will be done to create a best management plan for birds in coffee growing landscapes in Panama. A biodiversity assessment will be done to determine how birds are using shade grown coffee areas compared to sun grown systems and native forest. These findings will be used to develop recommendations on coffee management to conserve important bird and wildlife habitat.

Enroll at least 4 farms in 2018 in our “Taking Flight” program to support farms in transition to Bird Friendly biodiversity and shade standards by guaranteeing a market for transitional crops, a significant premium for Bird Friendly crops or helping with costs associated with production changes and reforestation.

Consult challenge participants on native and naturalized tree, shrub, vine and herbaceous species that coffee farmers can use for food, fiber and other uses, as well enhance and diversify income. This will lessen dependence on external sources for such products.

Begin the transition of at least one full-sun or poorly-shaded farm to Bird Friendly agroforest standards.

Begin to systematically monitor the economic benefit of the certification for producers and capture their attitudes linked to Bird Friendly to ensure its added value. Results from this surveying will inform a review of the certification’s pricing model.

Update

June 2023

In 2022, 28 interviews were conducted by a consultant with current or previously certified Bird Friendly producers. Producer perceptions of price premiums were collected. The consultant's results informed the development of a Bird Friendly Supply Guide and the creation of a Bird Friendly Program Manager for Latin America position. The first supply guide was distributed in 2022, serving to connect Bird Friendly producers, importers, roasters, and retailers. The Latin America Program Manager was hired in April 2023 and is committed to communicating with all certified groups at least once per year and updating price premium information.

Better understand agroforestry’s role in biomass/carbon sequestration in order to be able to recommend courses of action to producers and to businesses on which farm-level practices to promote to maximize these processes.

Update

June 2023

As of 2023, a 2-year postdoctoral fellow was onboarded to address this question. The goal is to evaluate the carbon storage potential of coffee agroforestry systems via a meta-analysis of the available literature. Currently, the aim is to answer four preliminary questions: How much carbon is stored in different types of coffee agroforestry systems?; how much additional carbon is sequestered over time in different types of coffee agroforestry systems/what is the potential for additionality in these systems?; what biophysical or management factors contribute to higher carbon storage/additionality in coffee agroforestry systems?; what is the alignment of factors that contribute to carbon storage/additionality and factors that contribute to biodiversity? This is in the planning stages with the aim of completion and dissemination in 24 months.

Partner with at least one organization or initiative assisting farmers in climate change adaptation and promote the use of shade as a climate change mitigation/yield maximization technique.

Conduct and analyze research investigating different land use models, especially as they relate to conservation and certification standards. If research reveals additional or wider conservation value of other land use practices, modifications to certification criteria will be incorporated by 2020-2021.

Assist at least one farm in reclaiming degraded lands like pastures and supporting their ecological restoration. This technique has previously been used not only to reforest denuded areas but also to restore water resources in terms of water flow (quantity) and quality.