This document introduces an Earthwatch Institute research project in Tarrazú, Costa Rica that aims to promote more sustainable coffee production practices. The project studies how traditional intensive farming has degraded soils and biodiversity in the region. The research examines factors like shade trees, ground cover, and soil pH to understand their impacts on coffee health, productivity, quality and erosion. The project also supports outreach to local farmers and technical assistance. It explores using agroecology and ecosystem services frameworks to manage landscapes in a way that supports water, soil, biodiversity, carbon sequestration and the well-being of communities. Specific on-farm strategies discussed include increasing aboveground and soil carbon stocks through shade trees, cover crops and biochar addition

1. Introduction to the Research Tarrazú, 2009

2. 1 st Part: The Beginning

3. “ Engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment” Earthwatch Institute:

4. Priority Areas: Climate Change Oceans Sustainable Cultures Sustainable Resource Management

5. High Level Goals: Increasing Scientific Knowledge Developing environmental leaders Enabling organizations and business to become more sustainable Informing environmental policies, agendas and management plans. Enhancing natural and socio-cultural capital Sustainable Organization

6. Tarrazú Research Initiative

7. Location: Tarrazú

8. Unsustainable Coffee Production: Soil degradation: Acidification and Erosion Intensive farming (high inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides, and nematicides): High production costs Decreased biodiversity

9. Shade tree Ground cover Coffee Health/vigor Productivity Quality Farmer investment Biodiversity and abundance Erosion and water run off Soil Landscape composition, features, altitude (GIS) Micro-climate Fertilizer and liming

10. Soil pH

12. Research Project: Field Research Farmer Outreach Program Support to CoopeTarrazú Technical Assistance

13. 2 nd Part: The Future of the Research Initiative

14. Ecosystem Services*: * Millenium Ecosystem Assesment, 2007 “ Ecosystems underpin human well –being through supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services.”

15. Ecosystem Services in the region: Water Soil Biodiversity Atmospheric Carbon Sequestration

16. Managing Ecosystems (1) Farm (sub) Watershed Landscape

17. Multipurpose Farming: Examples: Agroecology Ecoagriculture framework Sustainable Agriculture (as suggested like RAS)

18. Managing Ecosystems (2): Structure Components and their relationships Function Distribution and size

19. 3 rd Part: Carbon Sequestration

20. The Carbon Cycle*: * http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/CarbonCycle/carbon_cycle4.php

21. Carbon stocks: plants, soil, atmosphere* * In Janzen, H., 2004

22. Human induced changes: Increased CO 2 emissions (Janzen, 2004) Fossil Fuels: Land cover change:

23. Human induced changes (2): Warming Earth (IPCC,2007)

24. What to do? (in agricultural landscapes): On Farm Strategies_ Off Farm Strategies

25. On Farm Strategies: Increase Above/belowground Biomass Increase Soil Carbon Stock Use shade tree products to produce biofuels

26. Above/belowground Carbon Stock Shade tree species Coffee plant varieties Ground Cover

27. Above/belowground Carbon Stock (2)

28. Soil Carbon stock Addition of Organic Matter Addition of Biochar (!!!) Direct effects: Increase productivity, soil fertility, stability, microorganisms populations

29. Off Farm Strategies: Increase forest cover

30. Increase Forest Cover:

31. Increase Forest Cover: Compensation mechanisms Where, who, How much? You will help on this strategy!