Coffee production, timber, and firewood in traditional and inga-shaded plantations in southern Mexico

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Traditional Mexican coffee plantations, with a diverse shade vegetation of native tree species, are being replaced by coffee monocultures shaded by trees of the genus Inga, resulting in loss of biodiversity and ecological services. Coffee production is said to benefit from Inga shade, but few on-field experiments have been done to support this hypothesis. Secondary production (timber, firewood, fruits, medicines, etc.) is probably lower in Inga-shaded coffee plantations, and that loss could outweigh benefits from increased coffee production. Coffee yields, present stock of timber, and aboveground tree biomass as an indicator of firewood production were measured and compared for plots in traditional and in Inga-shaded plantations in Plan Paredón, Chiapas, Mexico. Coffee production was similar in both plantation types. Timber production was significantly higher in traditional plantations, and amounted to ten times the timber production in Inga-shaded plantations. Total tree biomass was significantly higher in traditional coffee plantations, but not biomass of tree species apt for firewood. However, firewood production could be higher in traditional plantations. There seems to be no reason to replace traditional plantations by Inga-shaded ones in order to increase production in the plantations studied. eng