Organic Cocoa Farming Is Used To Stabilize Costa Rican Buffer Zone
Case Study C0133
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| Agency | The Nature Conservancy |
| Donor/support agency | EcoEnterprise Fund Inter-American Development Bank Others |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Protected area |
| Geographic coverage | Costa Rica |
| Locality | Talamanca Corridor |
| Biodiversity focus | Habitat |
| Development focus | Local farming communities |
| Conservation goals | Protect the Talamanca/Bocas de Toro reserve |
| Poverty reduction goals | Improve the livelihoods of 400 small-scale producers of shaded cocoa in the Talamanca Corridor in Costa Rica |
Summary
Despite rising demand, cocoa productivity levels are declining in many parts of the world, as a result of persistent problems with diseases in the humid lowland tropical environment where this crop is grown. Major buyers of cocoa, believe it likely that the most promising option for long-term, sustainable cocoa production is with small-scale, organic systems. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is drawing upon these scientific advances to help protect the Talamanca/Bocas de Toro reserve. The reserve encompasses more than 30,000 ha of private lands, indigenous reserves, and coastal zones in Costa Rica, and 14,000 ha of coral reefs, mangroves, and lagoons in Panama. More than 358 species of birds, of which over 100 are North American migrants, depend on this intact forest for their survival. The Talamanca Corridor in Costa Rica is a major buffer zone for the reserve. Along one side of the Corridor are 400 small-scale producers of shaded cocoa who, for lack of capital, were unable to apply many purchased inputs to their crop before the TNC began its program. Their incomes had dropped and some farmers had begun to cut down their cocoa and shade trees to plant annual crops. To halt this land use change in the buffer zone, the TNC program promoted organic cocoa production. Financing for the program came from the EcoEnterprise Fund, a venture capital fund co-financed by TNC, the Inter-American Development Bank, and private investors for environmentally compatible businesses.
Conservation impact
As a result of the project, farmers have stopped cutting down their trees and are expanding the area under cocoa. A study of bird populations in the organic cocoa buffer zone found a higher number of species than in the forested areas because of the edge effects of the cocoa-forest mosaic.
Poverty reduction impact
This project has enabled 1,500 farmers to produce for the more lucrative organic cocoa markets, using new, higher-productivity organic management techniques. Farmers, mostly of the BriBri and Kekoldi indigenous peoples, are paid on average 85% more than other cocoa growers.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Ecoagriculture
Sustainable Use
Reference 1
http://www.ecoagriculturepartners.org/cases/CSIV.htm
Reference 2
McNeely, J.A. and Scherr, S.J., 2003, 'Common Ground, Common Future: How Ecoagriculture Can Feed the World and Save Wild Biodiversity', Ecoagriculture, Island Press
Related records above this one:
- The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (Organisation O0078)