Diversity of Trees in the Mesoamerican Agroforestry System

Abstract

Biodiversity conservation and production of foods imply a hard trade-off with no simple solutions routes. However, changing conventional agrarian and animal husbandry models to an agroforestry one is an important approach for achieving a better equilibrium between both economical and conservative goals. Agroforestry systems (AFS) for tropical lands provide a renewed old approach to deal with the need for feeding a growing population while avoiding damage to ecosystems on which food production is achieved. Neotropical studies on the subject have increased since the 1980s, accumulating evidences that it is possible to consider the potential of agroforestry to improve the status of biodiversity without hampering regular agricultural production. Three countries stand out for their contributions in the Mesoamerican region: Costa Rica, Mexico and Nicaragua. Notably, the researchers of biological diversity associated with Mesoamerican agroforestry systems have turned their attention primarily on nine biological groups: ants, bats, birds, butterflies, dung beetles, mammals, soil macrofauna, terrestrial mollusks and plants. Most research in Mesoamerica, including that in Colombia and Venezuela, dealing with biodiversity in the production systems has been abandoned. But there is an increasing trend of studies on biodiversity conservation in areas under active cultivation or livestock since both include trees. It is clear that the AFS can only help in reducing the negative impacts of agriculture and livestock grazing systems on the natural biodiversity. In conjunction with the network of protected areas in the region, this synergistic effect may increase the ability of biological conservation of the territory, alongside increasing economic benefits to the local rural society.